cinity of Ripont. The third battalion took up a battle position near
Ripont.

September 29--The third battalion went over the top. The Germans are in
retreat. Our positions are being bombarded. The machine gun fire is
terrific and 88 millimeter shells are falling as thick and fast as
hailstones. We are unable to keep up with the enemy. This afternoon it
is raining. This makes it bad for the wounded of whom there are many.

September 30--The first battalion is now on our right and advancing fast
despite the rain and mud. The machine gun opposition is strenuous. Our
casualties are small. We have captured a large number of prisoners.

October 1--Our advance is meeting with increased opposition. The enemy
has fortified himself on a hill just ahead. The ground prevents active
support by the French artillery. Still we are giving the Germans no
rest. They are now retreating across the valley to one of their supply
bases. The enemy is burning his supplies. We have taken the village at
Ardeuil. Our losses have been heavy but the Germans have lost more in
killed, wounded and taken prisoner than have our forces. On our right
the first battalion has entered the village of Sechault, after some hard
fighting by Company A.

October 4--The Second battalion is going in this morning. We are resting
at Vieux three kilometers from Monthois, one of the enemy's railroad
centers and base hospitals. The enemy is destroying supplies and moving
wounded. We can see trains moving out of Monthois. Our artillery is
bombarding all roads and railroads in the vicinity. The enemy's fire is
intense. We expect a counterattack.

October 5--The enemy's artillery has opened up. We are on the alert.
They have attacked and a good stiff hand to hand combat ensued. The
Germans were driven back with heavy losses. We have taken many prisoners
from about twelve different German regiments. We continued our advance
and now are on the outskirts of Monthois.

October 6--The enemy is throwing a stiff barrage on the lines to our
left where the 333rd French Infantry is attacking. We can see the Huns
on the run. The liaison work of the 157th Division is wonderful; not the
slightest gap has been left open. Our patrols entered Monthois early
this morning and were driven out by machine gun fire, but returned with
a machine gun and its crew. We will be relieved by the 76th infantry
regiment at 8 p.m. We hiked over the ground we had fought so hard to
take to Minnecourt, w