that of Condé, which was in possession of the enemy, and remained so
until the end of the battle.

In the approach to Missy, where the Fifth Division eventually crossed,
there is some open ground which was swept by a heavy fire from the
opposite bank. The Thirteenth Brigade was therefore unable to advance;
but the Fourteenth, which was directed to the east of Venizel at a less
exposed point, was rafted across, and by night established itself with
its left at St. Marguérite. They were followed by the Fifteenth Brigade;
and later on both the Fourteenth and Fifteenth supported the Fourth
Division on their left in repelling a heavy counter-attack on the Third
Corps.

On the morning of the 13th the Third Corps found the enemy had
established himself in strength on the Vregny plateau. The road bridge
at Venizel was repaired during the morning, and a reconnoissance was
made with a view to throwing a pontoon bridge at Soissons.

The Twelfth Infantry Brigade crossed at Venizel, and was assembled at
Bucy le Long by 1 P.M., but the bridge was so far damaged that
artillery could only be man-handled across it. Meanwhile the
construction of a bridge was commenced close to the road bridge at
Venizel.

At 2 P.M. the Twelfth Infantry Brigade attacked in the direction of
Chivres and Vregny with the object of securing the high ground east of
Chivres, as a necessary preliminary to a further advance northward. This
attack made good progress, but at 5:30 P.M. the enemy's artillery and
machine gun fire from the direction of Vregny became so severe that no
further advance could be made. The positions reached were held till