Caton Woodville. The London Scottish
re-forming for a third charge, in which they succeeded in taking and
occupying Messines October 31, 1914]
* * * * *
CHAPTER XIX
"CROSSING THE AISNE"
In order to gain a clear idea of what was involved in the feat of
"crossing the Aisne," which more than one expert has declared to
be the greatest military feat in river crossing in the history of
arms, it is well to look at the topography of that point, first in
its relation to the whole German line, and, second, in its relation
to possible attack in September, 1914.
The prepared positions on the Aisne to which the Germans fell back
after the battle of the Marne, were along a line of exceptionally
strong natural barriers. The line extends from a point north of
Verdun, on the heights of the Meuse, across the wooded country of
the Argonne and the plain of Champagne to Rheims, thence northwest
to Brimont, crossing the Aisne near its confluence with the Suippe,
and from thence proceeding to Craonne, whence it takes a westerly
course along the heights of the Aisne to the Forest of the Eagle,
north of Compiegne. The eastern end of this line has already been
described in connection with the battles of the Marne, and it is
the western section of this line which now demands consideration.
Just as the River Marne was taken as a basis for the consideration
of the topography of the battles that centered round the crossing
of the Ourcq, Grand Morin, Petit Morin, and the Marne, so the Aisne
is naturally the most important determinant in the problems of
its crossing.
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