ers and maps, in the room of one of the greatest commanders in the world, the General finished the paper he was filling out with

s worn out! Can't we manage to get

my room," said the General. "A couple of you take him in there." He beckoned his

Mr. and Mrs. Potter, lived their busy, helpful lives, trying not to let each other know just how they longed for the two splendid boys they had given to their country. But like others who had given their all, each knew just how the other felt, and so tried by countles

pt for the sound of distant guns booming at close intervals, the place was silent enough. The office work went on quietly. A couple of typewriters clac

essed to "the Potter boys" and left on the desk, also

ful of all the alarm clocks that a boy can have. He was hungry, he was frightfully hungr

rried into his clothes, which he found nicely dried and on a stool by his cot. There was a table by the cot, and

night before, there were only a couple of Captains, strangers to him, offic

id si

oy

s a leave given you on account of your good work yesterday. I have not seen Beany at all to-day. I enclose a pass that will take you wherever you want to go within the lines. Don't go to

r fr

NEL B

wo officers. One of them was running the typewriter like a veteran; the other, with a puc

r a while, then he w

r dictation, sir," he said. "Tha

time ago for some dope, and I jotted down something then. It is on scraps of paper, and they couldn't read it as it is now written. I wan

for me to do until my brother blows in. There is no use for me to go af

chine, the war will be over about the time I finish; and that's not hurrying the war an

r, and lighted a cigarette while he scanned t

," he said.

en order drills which is by sections instead of squads. We have also had any amount of rifle shooting and certainly know how to shoot. Then, besides, we have had practice in throwing live hand-grenades until our arms ached, but the use of this deadly bomb is of the utmost importance for close fighting as one grenade properly thrown among the enemy is liable to wipe out a hundred men. Besid

close on the enemy's front, and others in our own training area. We have marched about ten miles to the trenches, relieving other battalions about three A.M. and holding the trench until about six P.M. ne

g line, including the guard work, which is divided into two reliefs, and everybody turns o

nd divisional maneuvers, and we always march with

and rolled another cigarette. P

kind of mask, have

u seen them!" as

y. "I just heard the

ere is the usual tube to your mouth. There is a rubber cap that sets over the front teeth and fits close to the gums, with little rubber dew hickeys to bite on

e picked up

les we consider our best f

ls of the military life we have to meet here ma

ictly responsible for any dirty or rusty arms and equipment found among their men, and they

en knocked off. Other men, through carelessness, have fallen out of the cars. The failure to assemble organizations at the time set before the departure of tr

ow short the journey turns out to be, the preparations are the same. Organizations must entrain with two days' field rations on

loaded for the field, especially with the cooking utensils, water cans, paulins, three

e used. Distances to other posts will generally be found on posts on the si

ends at twenty-four. Thus, for in

"It does make the longest day, even after you get the hang of thin

," said the Captain, laughing. He

ea of concentration a supply train will be forwarded each day to the rail head, from which supplies will be carried to the troops by the wagon

y officer!" co

id the Captain, a

usually provided for the troops. They will hold from thirty-two to forty men. Sometimes seats are provided, sometimes straw to lie on. Spaces at each end of the car are to be left clear for rifles, travel rations, and accouterments, the rifles being secured by a temporary rack made with screw rings

n folded u

d Porky. "It sounds

ng more, if you don't mind w

aid Porky. "I'm mi

relief to me." He leaned back in his chair, sta

work at the front, living underground. We have very comfortable and well ventilated quarters, and are sleeping in bunks, on clean bed sacks filled with clean straw. The only objection is the rats, of which there are great numbers, but we have a cat and

doing something worth while. I have heard the German shells and have seen German terri

a very rough day. The shell holes run into each other, and are often ten or twelve feet deep and thirty feet across. This place, which was once a French village, has been taken from the Germans, and the ground is covered with unexploded shells, hand-grenades, German helmets, old rifles, and all sorts of things that would make wonderful souven

ring, but we watch the little bursts of white smoke from the French shells, and the black smoke from the Germans. I have often seen twenty-five or thirty little puffs of smo

me down in a parachute. They said they didn't mind it. Perhaps they didn't, but both were about as pale as they could be. I watched the whole performance. To-day

utes open up and glisten in the sun. Both landed safely, and wanted t

but we are supposed to be safe here underground and, anyway, the Boche shells don't seem to come this way, though we often

ay seem, there is much less illness than there in the training camps at home. I can't make this out unless the men as a general rule reach here greatly benefited by the sea voyage. Certainly the wor

d, you're a brick!" he said. "That's all, and thank you a thou

ning as he did so. "Most night again," he said. "Seventeen o'clock by their queer old way of counting. It's mighty funny wh