to the left front was Saulx; all three front line towns held by our Infantry. As it was a clear day, we could look far towards the north, and someone discovered what looked like factory chimneys streaming up black smoke! It seemed unbelievable that such work could be done by the Boche under our very guns, but the explanation was that the Germans were running the coal-mines and munitions plants of Briey and Conflans with Allied prisoners of war, so that we could not fire on them. Beyond our front line towns were the German front line towns; Riaville, Marcheville, and St. Hilaire. On the hillside behind us and also on the plain were battered vine­ yards, with the grapes beginning to ripen.

                The next few days everything went smoothly. There was plenty of work to do fixing up old cellars for cellar quarters, building protection for the gun­ crews, and establishing a reserve of ammunition. The 2nd Platoon guns remained in their orchard where they were first established, but the 1st Platoon moved its guns to the far edge of the town where more protection and a wider field of fire could be obtained. The kitchen was in a shed whose roof had seen better days, but which still was more useful than none. Lt. MacNamee's "Command Post" was near the 1st Platoon in a reinforced cellar. The Boche had left a well-stocked lumberyard which we put to good use reinforcing cellars and building bunks, trail-logs, and other things.

                Life for the firing battery at Herbeuville was very pleasant. For the most part, the men worked at night and kept out of sight during the day.

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