up everywhere in front of us. On our right "Dead Man's Corner" was being heavily shelled, sparks of bursting 150's shining out in the distance. No one could light a match or smoke, as we were in direct observation of the Boche. In some way the Hun had got wind of the relief that was taking place, and had shelled all the battery positions the night before for six hours with gas shells and high explosives. On the night of the 3rd, however, not a shell came over towards the Battery. By 3 A. M. our guns were safely in position, and the 7th's were well on their way to their echelon.

The Toul Sector was an exceedingly poor one for artillery positions. There were practically no places well suited for emplacements, and everything could be promptly picked up by the enemy. The St. Dizier-Metz Road ran along through the towns of Rambucourt and Beaumont, parallel to the front lines, about 200 meters back of them. Practically the only possibilities in the way of battery positions lay just under the cover of these towns where they would be practically hidden from observation. Behind Rambucourt there was quite a cluster of batteries: two 90 mm. and two 75 mm. all within 500 meters of each other, A's position being between the two 90 batteries. This position was a strong one: every dug- out had a heavy protection of concrete slabs, logs, rocks, I beams, tole iron and sand bags; two gas­ proof doors were on every entrance and even the gun pits had enough protection to resist a 77. The emplacement, however, was three or four years old and naturally was well known to the Boche who loved to

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