tts and sailors
were fiercely counter-attacking and threatening to sweep back the line
and capture field-headquarters.

During the preceding hours the French company had pressed in gallantly
after the artillery and machine gun barrage and captured the bridgehead,
and, supported by the American machine gun men and the trench mortar
men, had taken the Bolo's first trench line, seeking to consolidate the
position.

Lieut. Keith of "Hq." Company with twenty-one men and three Stokes
mortars had gone through the woods and taking a lucky direction, avoided
the swamp and cut in to the railroad, arriving in the morning just after
the barrage and the French infantry attack had driven the Reds from
their first line. They took possession of three Bolshevik shacks and a
German machine gun, using hand grenades in driving the Reds out. Then
they placed their trench mortars in position to meet the Bolo
counter-attack.

The Bolos came in on the left flank under cover of the woods, the French
infantry at that time being on the right flank in the woods, and two
platoons of Americans being lost somewhere on the left in the swamp.
This counterattack of the Reds was repulsed by the trench mortar boys
who, however, found themselves at the end of the attack with no more
ammunition for their mortars, Col. Sutherland not having provided for
the sending of reserve ammunition to the mortars from Obozerskaya.
Consequently the second attack of the Reds was waited with anxiety. The
Reds were in great force and well led. They came in at a new angle and
divided the Americans and French, completely overwhelming the trench
mortar men's rifle fire and putting Costello's valiant machine guns out
of action, too. Lieut Keith was severely wounded, one man was killed,
four wounded and three missing. Sgt. Kolbe and Pvt. Driscoll after
prodigies of valor with their machine guns were obliged to fall back
with the French. Kolbe was severely wounded. So the Bolo yells that day
sounded in triumph as they won back their positions from the Americans
and French.

The writer knows, for he heard those hellish yells. Under cover of the
single "M" Company platoon rushed up to the bridge, the Americans and
French whose gallant efforts had gone for naught because Col.
Sutherland's battle plan was a "dud," retired to field headquarters at
461. A half platoon of "I" men hurried up to support. The veteran Alliez
encouraged the American officer Captain Moore, to hang on to