rons of 20 or 25 each. Our anti-aircraft guns would fill the air with their bursts while our machine gun­ ners tried in vain to worry the daredevil enemy.

                Our own firing in this position was the most in­ tense we had ever done. On July 29 we fired 1273 rounds, on the 30th, 2050 rounds, on the 31st, 1050 rounds, and on Aug. 1, 1300 rounds. The special mission of our Regiment was to support the 167th Infantry in its advance. It was having a hard time crossing the Ourcq, for the pick of the Prussian guards opposed it. In Sergy, the most desperate hand to hand fighting took place. First one side would capture the town and then the other. The wheat fields above it were alive with machine gun nests. From every angle they swept our lines with a murderous fire. We combed these fields again and again with our 75's. We concentrated on Sergy, on Nesles, and on the woods beyond. We fired numerous rolling barrages for our troops to advance under. Every hedge, every bush, housed a machine gun which had to be dislodged. There was a proud moment for us on July 30. The Infantry advance was held up by a machine gun nest in front of it, and their liason officer telephoned back to his Colonel. He gave us its co­ ordinates and told us to destroy it. The third piece fired two shots:—the second shot was a direct hit!

                Most of the cannoneers were now practically deaf from the effects of the firing. The telephone was of no use in calling up the guns as nobody could hear it. It was now fourteen days since the drive started. Everybody was tired before it began, but now after this long period of no sleep and continuous twenty-

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