[Illustration: KITCHEN AT NO. 4 AVENUE DU MARÉCHAL FOCH, AS THE GERMANS LEFT IT.]
_Pass in front of the Church, leaving it to the left, then turn to the left into N._ 3, _which leads back to_ =Château-Thierry=, via _the Avenue du Maréchal Foch_.
The photographs on this page, showing the effects of German plundering, were taken at No. 4 of this avenue.
From Vaux, the road winds round =Hill 204=, which was so bitterly disputed. In July, 1918, the Americans set out for the attack from the various villages seen on the way, and after a week of severe fighting, succeeded in driving out the Germans.
[Illustration: DINING-ROOM AT NO. 4 AVENUE DU MARÉCHAL FOCH, AS THE GERMANS LEFT IT.]
[Illustration: ITINERARY OF THE SECOND DAY--70 MILES.]
The following itinerary will enable the tourist to follow, step by step, the course of the battle for the straightening out of the Château-Thierry salient. It will also enable him to form a correct idea of the German offensive of May 27, with its alternations of advance and retreat around Soissons, the northern pivot of the battle.
_Leave by the Avenue du Maréchal Joffre, take the second street on the right_ (_Rue Gare-des-Chesneaux_), whence there is a =fine view= of the town and castle. _Do not cross the railway by the level crossing on the right of the station, but continue straight ahead, leaving on the right the street which leads to the entrance of the Castle (photo below). Pass the “Octroi,” turn to the left about 100 yards further on_, under the ruined bridge. The hospital on the left was badly damaged by shell-fire, as were also the neighbouring embankment and houses.
[Illustration: ENTRANCE TO THE OLD CASTLE OF CHÂTEAU-THIERRY.
_The itinerary follows_ the road on the left.]
_Follow the G. C. 15_, to the left of which, hollowed out in the sloping sides, are many ammunition shelters. _Pass under another_ damaged railway bridge. Near the bridge over the small river which flows in front of the village of =Verdilly= are numerous shell-holes and large heaps of ammunition and rubbish.
_Pass through Verdilly, which was not severely damaged._
The Castle and park on the left received numerous shells. In Barbillon Wood, on the right, huge quantities of abandoned shells were collected.