. Rheims and the battles for its possession . n, remained thesole protection of Rheims to the north-west. It was defended by the French 45th Infantry Division (General Naulin),composed of Algerian Sharp-shooters, Zouaves and African Light Infantry,who held their ground on May 27-28, after which they were reinforcedby battalions of Singalese and Marines drawn from the sector east ofRheims. The struggle was a fierce one, and hand-to-hand fighting frequent. Finallythe constant inflow of German reserves forced back the French, who, on May29, had to abandon the position, to which the enemy afterwar
. Rheims and the battles for its possession . n, remained thesole protection of Rheims to the north-west. It was defended by the French 45th Infantry Division (General Naulin),composed of Algerian Sharp-shooters, Zouaves and African Light Infantry,who held their ground on May 27-28, after which they were reinforcedby battalions of Singalese and Marines drawn from the sector east ofRheims. The struggle was a fierce one, and hand-to-hand fighting frequent. Finallythe constant inflow of German reserves forced back the French, who, on May29, had to abandon the position, to which the enemy afterwards clung forfour months. On October 1 the Germans, beaten on the previous eveningby the French 5th Army on the high ground between the Aisne and Rheims,was forced to retreat. The French regained possession of Merfy and St. Thierry,and advanced as far as the outskirts of the Fort of St. Thierry, which, withThil and Villers-Franqueux, Hermonville, Couroy and Cormicy, fell into theirhands in the course of the next few days (see map above). 1-18. DESTROYED BRIDCE OVER THE CANAL, NEAR LE CODAT From Cormicy to Godat Farm (See Itinerary, p. 134.) Pass straight through Cormicy, leaving the church on the left. Take G. to the Rheims-Laon road (N. 44), where turn to the right. Rather less thana mile further on, near the Maison Blanche, is a road leading to Godat can only go as far as the canal, the destroyed bridge {photo above) nothaving yet been rebuilt. The lock4;eepers house seen in the photograph belowwas completely destroyed. Cross the canal on foot to reach Godat Farm, situated about 300 yardsfurther on. Le Godat, formerly a small fief with a castle and chapel (destroyed duringthe Revolution in 1793), was merely a farm and a plain country house when
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidrheimsbattle, bookyear1920
