The Nevada County picayune., 1918-10-03
CHAPTER Vtii-Continued.

Other field kitchens were near by. They had prepared more food than their companies needed. Many for whom they had cooked will never eat again. We were invited to come and get whatever we wanted.
 We had scarcely finished eating when we had to march on. Presently we were joined by more members Of our company. Our captain appeared. One of our officers reported to him the number missing. He stepped in front of the company and said cheerfully, "Good morning, men," although it was seven o'clock in the evening. A growl was the only response. We were then ordered to go to the wagons standing at the north side of the town, where each man was to supply himself with cartridges and three hand grenades. We gathered at the wagons at 9:3C o'clock and each man took 500 car tridges, his three grenades and matches to light them. On the way to the wag- ons we saw everywhere formations be- ing hastily organized from stray sol diers and we received the impression of some great activity In preparation. The rain had begun to fall In tor rents. AS we took our places we saw the streets filled with troops wearing special uniforms to protect them against the weather. These uniforms consisted of a suit of weatherproof clothing. cap, such baggage as must t.Ix lnth sticks. dishes and, with the pioneers. trench tools. Thus equipped, we stood in the rain and waited, ignorant of what lay before us.
 We were ordered to take the breech locks out of the guns and put them in our bread bags. The guns now were no good for shooting. We now began to understand what lay before us. A night attack was planned with bayonets and hand grenades. and the measures which had been taken were taken so that we would not shoot at one another in the darkness.
 We stood and waited until eleven o'clock. when the order suddenly came to go into quarters. We did not know what to make of this after all the preparations We could tell from the drum fire and the red glare in the sky that the battle had not lessened in violence. The sky glowed, illumlned " the burning villages and farms.
 On the way to our quarters we heard the officers saying among themselves that final trial had been intended to defeat the French. This had been the reason behind the preparations for the night attack which had now been called off.
 Headquarters apparently had de cided otherwise. Perhaps it was known there that nothing could he accom- plished by attacking and the order was given to begin the retreat which wa, put into effect the next morning at six o'clock We did not realize then that this was to be our last night in Nitry
 We were sheltered in q shed for the night. As we were very tired. we soof were fast asleep. We were aroused al four o'clock in the morning everyone was given loaf of breuu and ordered to fill his cantccn with water, after which the march began. Although w6 were ignorant of our destination, tht inhabitants of Vitry seemed to under stand where we were going and they stood on the streets throwing us sig nificant glances.
 Everywhere the feverish movement was on. We stopped in front of tht town hall. Here the captain told us that because of difficulty in the terrain our troops had to vacate their posi- tions and retire to nearby heights ant occupy new defenses. With that he turned around and pointed to ridge on the horizon.
 .There we shall make stand ant wait for the enemy" he said. "NC rc-enforcements will arrive today ant in few days we may send picture postal cards to your homes from Paris"