we be exterminated by the enemy artillery. At
daybreak Lt. Dressing of "B" Company took out a reconnaissance patrol to
feel out the enemy lines of defense, but owing to the nature of the
ground he had little success. His patrol ran into a Bolo outpost and was
scattered by machine gun fire. It was here that Corporal Shroeder was
lost, no trace ever being found of his body or equipment.

About noon two platoons of Company "B" went out to occupy a certain
objective. This they found was a well constructed trench system filled
with Bolos, and flanked by machine gun positions. In the ensuing action
we had three men killed and eight men wounded, including Lt. A. M.
Smith, who received a severe wound in the side, but continued handling
his platoon effectively, showing exceptional fortitude. The battle
continued during the afternoon all along the line. "C" and "D" were
supporting "B" with as much fire as possible. But troops could not stay
where they were under the enemy fire, and Col. Corbley, who had at last
arrived, ordered a frontal attack to come off after a preparatory
barrage by our Russian artillery which had at last toiled up to a
position.

Here fortune favored the Americans. The Russian artillery officer placed
a beautiful barrage upon the village and the enemy gunboats, which
continued from 4:45 to 5:00 p.m. At 5:00 o'clock, the zero hour, the
infantry made the attack and in less than an hour's time they had gained
the village.

The Bolsheviks had been preparing to evacuate anyway, as the persistence
of our attack and effectiveness of our rifle fire had nearly broken
their morale. Americans with white, strained faces, in contrast with
their muck-daubed uniforms, shook hands prayerfully as they discussed
how a determined defense could have murdered them all in making that
frontal attack across a swamp in face of well-set machine gun positions.

However, the Americans were scarcely better off when they had taken
Seltso, for their artillery now could not get up to them. So the enemy
gunboats could shell Seltso at will. Hence it appeared wise to retire
for a few days to Yakovlevskaya. In the early hours of the morning
following the battle the Americans retired from Seltso. They were
exceedingly hungry, dog-tired, sore in spirit, but they had undergone
their baptism of fire.

After a few days spent in Yakovlevskoe we set out again, and advanced as
far as a village called Pouchuga. Here we expected another encounter