During the St Mihiel Salient, the French desperate to gain control of the town, moved through D'Ailly woods. A company of the 172nd Infantry Regiment under Commandant d?Andr? reached the enemy line but reinforcements were not able to follow due heavy fire. D?Andr??s men were forced to retreat and spent three days in a small trench under constant fire, without food or water. Forced to surrender the trench was named in their honour 'Tranche de La Soif' which translates as the 'trench of thirst'.