that everyone could not go. Only the gun crews, some of the telephone and instrument men, three ma­ chine gunners, one scout, two cooks, and two mechanics could go. The greater part of the Battery had to remain there in the woods to form the echelon, a term we borrowed from the French. It included the drivers, and all cannoneers, telephonists, instrument men, mechanics, and cooks not required at the front. The stables, or picket lines for the horses, were also a part of it as were the caissons and wagons, rolling kitchen and water cart. The echelon, which is generally just out of range, serves as a base of supplies from which all ammunition, food, water, and other materials are sent to the firing battery at the front. The firing battery consists of about fifty men at a time—just enough to fire the guns and maintain communications.

After a couple of hours of frantic preparations, the firing battery started for that strange place of which we had heard so much and yet knew so little, the front. It was still light as we passed through Chassemy and on towards the river Aisne. We crossed the Aisne at Vailly. Once a beautiful and prosperous town, Vailly had suffered heavy bombardments. Great holes were torn in the walls and roofs of buildings. Here and there a cellar filled with tum­ bled masses of masonry marked a house completely destroyed. Yet the streets were in good repair. French soldiers from balloon and truck companies were comfortably settled in patched-up houses, and French army stores and bathing plants gave an air of stability to the half-destroyed town. Continuing

CONTENTS
INDEX