Here and there we find
the remains of the former covering of clay and Fontainebleau
sand--wooded ridges which expand toward the east into the wood of
Seringes, the forest of Nesle, and Meuniere wood. These hills, the last
as we travel northward, where they command the whole of the Soissonnais,
have therefore the greatest strategic value, particularly the positions
of Hartennes, Plessier-Huleu, and Seringes.
[Sidenote: The French approach from the west.]
Luckily these formidable defensive positions were approached from the
west, astride the ridges. Starting from the forest of Retz, the French
crossed the Savieres with a rush, and in a single bound reached
Noroy-sur-Ourcq and Villers-Helon, which lie along one of the ridges,
surrounded by orchards. On July 19 they had advanced three kilometres to
the east; the strong line of the Ourcq was outflanked. On the 20th they
were at Parcy-Tigny and Rozet-St.-Albain, pushing forward over the
broken ground planted with sugar-beets and cereals, enlivened in spots
by small clumps of trees perched on the sandstone hillocks. Thus they
drew near to the heart of the position--the ridges of Plessier and of
Hartennes. There the resistance was much more violent; but after three
days of hard fighting, the French entered Plessier and approached the
village of Oulchy-la-Ville, surrounded by picturesque heaps of sandstone
blocks mingled with pines and birches. On the 25th, in the evening, they
were in occupation of Oulchy-le-Chateau, which lies in a charming vale
running down to the Ourcq.
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