nd clearer skies two days before our entry into the
village, does not, however, seem to have been very fond of animals;
for out of the forsaken house there rose piteously the whimpering and
whining of the half-starved setters.

But what are the thousand bright recollections of the captured town,
what are all the experiences of this campaign, compared to the heavy,
heavy days of fighting which our battalion had to battle through near
L.!

On Sunday, Oct. 4 the detachment marched from D. in the direction of
L. It had been known for some time that the enemy was attempting a
movement around our extreme right flank. Continual detrainments of
French troops were taking place at L. A further advance was to be
permitted to them under no conditions. The march toward L. took place
on various roads. A cavalry division cleared the territory north of
the city, and dispatched, simultaneously with our own advance, a
company of Jaegers and a company of bicycle men against L.

At 1 o'clock we received fire. The point of our column returns it. As
ever in small towns and suburbs the skill of the French is great in
street fighting, turning to best advantage every protruding corner and
extension of a building, and utilizing every alley of trees for firing
attacks. Then the Frenchman clears these spaces quickly and hurries
for protection to the next block of houses, till he has lured the foe
far enough forward to surprise him with a carefully prepared fire from
the side.

By leaps and bounds we advance along the broad road to the heights of
the two suburbs F. and R. Here for the first time there is a matching
of fighting forces. Undoubtedly the foe is far superior to us
numerically; and he seems firmly determined not to allow himself to be
crowded out of his excellent sheltered positions.

Our battery rolls up, and lets her brazen tongue speak. The infantry
fight ceases, until the foremost buildings are set aflame on all three
sides. Troop at a time, the French now take to flight, most of them
abandoning their cartridges, as is evidenced by the rattle of
exploding ammunition on every floor of the buildings.

But R. holds out, while F., at the right of the roadway, and the
houses afire on the road toward Lille itself are quickly cleared of
the enemy. The bicycle patrol, which has undertaken a determined
advance to F., meets no further foe.

But upon the two companies engaged on my right there is poured a
murderous fire that presently