Sure enough at dawn the great German offensive broke loose—but it was smashing against the lines along the banks of the Marne and not against us. All day long we could hear the tremendous roar of the guns to the east of us. Our front remained fairly quiet, except for the heavy gassing of a few wooded areas near us.

                When the drivers came up with ammunition that evening, they were full of rumors about great preparations in the rear for an attack by us. Big guns of all calibres were being brought in. Everything pointed to action very shortly. For a day or so nothing out of the ordinary happened, except perhaps that rumors flew around thicker than before. All night long as usual, we kept on with our harassing fire, and as usual, nine caissons of ammunition, 900 rounds, arrived each night.

                July 18 proved to be a never-to-be-forgotten day. At 3 A. M. orders were received from Battalion Head­ quarters that "H. Hour" would be at 4.35. A long rolling barrage was rapidly figured out, and at 4.35, with no previous preparatory fire, every gun along the western side of the Chateau-Thierry Salient opened up together. It was a remarkable sound, and it produced a wonderful feeling, to know that the allies were at last on the offensive again!

                We fired over 1400 round that morning, first on the rolling Barrage and then on various machine posts that were giving the Infantry trouble. About noon we fired several Barrages over Hill 193 back of Givry. These were only to be fired as a protection for the Infantry when they had captured their objectives,

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