sider our quarters and living conditions anything re markable, later, when at the front we appreciated their comfort and would willingly have been back. Everyone had a cot with springs and mattress. Each room had one or two stoves for which coal was issued. Commencing with October 19, there were electric lights (when they weren't out of order), the wiring having been done by the men since their arrival. There was also the luxurious "Salle des Bains" where we could indulge in tub baths. All these advantages, coupled with practically no night work, made it a comparatively soft life in spite of the drill schedule from "first call" at 5:45 a. m. to "retreat" at 4:30 p. m.

At our arrival, the Battery was completely green. The month at Boxford had afforded practically no experience of value. The mechanism and fire of the French "75" had to be mastered. The drivers had to learn how to care for their horses and take the carriages over any kind of ground or fences. The officers had the administration of the Battery and preparation and conduct of Are to learn. Methods of communication and use of fire-control instruments were unknown. For the instruction of all this, there were several French officers who had seen much service, and a number of men from the First Division who had had some experience at the Front, mostly gunner corporals, to teach the gun-crews and telephone men. Schools for telephone and wireless were established, but it may be noted that these taught very little that was of practical worth.

On October 6 the guns arrived. These were the famous French 75 millimetre guns of which we had

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