Plan of Defence, Chapter II, Sector of Sommedieue

SECTOR OF SOMVEDIEUE Brought up to the date of 396 Oct. 8, 1918. Infantry PI/N OF DEFENCE ARCHIVES AND NATIONAL RECORDS CHAPTER II SERVICE" A - LIMITS OF - See Sketch. The seotor of Somm edi ene is comprised between the Seotor of Cabar- et to the North and the Sector of Troyon to the South. The limits are: North North Edge of the Bois Nobras, Fond de Beaupre (inclusive), South Test corner of the Bois de la Laufee batterie du Tunnel Bellevue Ferme ( to the 15th D.I.C.) Cagernes Chevert ( to the South D.I.C.) Fort of Belrupt (to the 15th D.I.C.) Platriere ( to the 10th D.I.C. Heudainville ( to the 15th D.I.C.) South Embranchment ( means a fork of rosds or a branch line of railroad) 333 (North of Chateau and Forme d'Aulnois) Meanil sous les Cotes (inclusive) road and earthroad leading from Mesnil to Mouilly (This section of road common to the two adjoining actora)-Mouilly (exclusive) B - MISSION OF THE DIVISION The division has for a mission the defence of the Sector of Sonme- Dieue. It must prohibit the enemy from taking a foothold on the Hauts-de-Neuse and conserve at any price, The possession of the observatories which command a view of the entire plain frow the fobt of the hills as far as the region of Briey and Mars-la Tour. C - GENFRAL CONDITIONS OF THE DEFENCE Analysia of the Terrain (a) The plain occupied by the enemy is out by small woods and clumps of trees permitting a rather easy infiltration; it ie sep- arated into about two equal parts by a wooded zone (Bois de Man- heulles and Bois Chabotte) which might permit to the enemy a shel- tered gathering, in the immediate vicinity of our lines, of a grent quantity of troops. (o) On the Frenoh side, the Haudioment and Chatillon a salient rather plainly detached from the whole of the mass of hills. This gulient which makes a bustion permits to flank all our main lines of resistance to the North.%kx* This bastion is very near to the Bois de Manheulles and therefore the zone of outpost in this region is nearly on-existent. This is the delic te point of the defence of the sector; in oase of attack by the enemy, it will be very likely there he will bring all his efforts. Southward the line of resistance parts from the Hauts de Meuse, crosses the valley of the Longeau at Meshil sous les cotes and catohes the Hill of Les Hures Except in the wooded region of the centre, the enemies line is generally distanct by about 1 kilometer from ours.