chigan, down on the farm," and to find his food cooked
and served as near as possible like it was "back home" to a sick man.
Blessings on the medical men!

II

FALL OFFENSIVE ON THE RAILROAD

Third Battalion Hurries From Troopship To Troop-Train Bound For
Obozerskaya--We Relieve Wearied French Battalion--"We Are Fighting An
Offensive War"--First Engagement--Memorable Night March Ends At Edge Of
Lake--Our Enemy Compels Respect At Verst 458--American Major Hangs
On--Successful Flank March Takes Verst 455--Front Line Is Set At 445 By
Dashing Attack--We Hold It Despite Severe Bombardments And Heavy
Assaults.

On the afternoon of September the fifth the 3rd Battalion of the 339th
Infantry debarked hurriedly at Bakaritza. Doughboys marched down the
gangplank with their full field equipment ready for movement to the
fighting front. Somewhere deep in the forest beyond that skyline of pine
tree tops a handful of French and Scots and American sailors were
battling the Bolos for their lives. The anxiety of the British staff
officer--we know it was one of General Poole's staff, for we remember
the red band on his cap, was evidenced by his impatience to get the
Americans aboard the string of tiny freight cars.

Doughboys stretched their sea legs comfortably and formed in column of
squads under the empty supply shed on the quay, to escape the cold
drizzle of rain, while Major Young explained in detail how Captain
Donoghue was to conduct the second train.

All night long the two troop trains rattled along the Russki railway or
stood interminably at strange-looking stations. The bare box cars were
corded deep with sitting and curled up soldiers fitfully sleeping and
starting to consciousness at the jerking and swaying of the train. Once
at a weird log station by the flaring torchlights they had stood for a
few minutes beside a northbound train loaded with Bolshevik prisoners
and deserters gathered in that day after the successful Allied
engagement. Morning found them at a big bridge that had been destroyed
by artillery fire of the Red Guards the afternoon before, not far from
the important village of Obozerskaya, a vital keypoint which just now we
were to endeavor to organize the defense of, and use as a depot and
junction point for other forces.

No one who was there will forget the initial scene at Obozerskaya when
two companies of Americans, "I" and "L", proceeded' up the railroad
track in column of twos and halted in r