"The weather is very damp and consequently cold and
chilly. Usually a heavy fog in the morning that does not lift
until
noon or not at all. We manage to gather a few twigs and have
a small fire.
"We drilled some yesterday but not on schedule until
tomorrow, when work on the guns will commence.
"Our battery has been filled with new men who just came
over as replacement troops. Most of them are southerners.
They are good fellows but have not had a great deal of drilling."
October 27, 1918.
"We are still pegging away at the same old stuff. A
great deal of gas drill which is essential, inasmuch as they
practically
live in an atmosphere of gas at the front.
"Some of the boys who have been on detached service
returned yesterday, necessitating a rearrangement of squad
rooms. We, of course, had to move and as there was not room
enough on the lower floor, the 11th and 12th squads cleaned up
a space next to the roof. It looks pretty good now that the cleaning
process is over.
"You ask if the places here are destroyed, that we live
in the barns. No, this part of France is untouched by war. There
are many old chateaus, very few completely occupied and some
not at all.
"The weeks fly past and there is not much time to write."