chairs, stoves and electric light. Our
beds were the hard floors, sometimes softened by straw ticks.

Passes to Ahrweiler were in demand. In this, the capital of the "Kreis"
or province, whose gates and ruined wall remained of medieval centuries,
were to be had candy, at very high prices; "kuchen," of varying
excellence; and rings, Iron Crosses and other souvenirs in abundance.
But the charms of this place faded before those of Bad Neuenahr, two
kilometres farther down the river, which came into prominence later as a
divisional leave area. There the big hotels, housing the 150th F. A.,
the Kurhaus, the Casino, and the baths, along the brawling little river
Ahr, spoke of a resort international in fame before the war. These all
became conveniences for the American soldiers.

The foraging detail which had produced so good a Thanksgiving dinner,
went out again for Christmas. Corporal Unger, Corporal Collier and
Sergeant Pond scoured the countryside. Finances had been provided by the
house's interest in games of poker, craps and chuck-a-luck on several
evenings at Quiddelbach. Chocolate and soap, however, were better buyers
than francs and marks, for these commodities were very nearly priceless
to the farmers in the vicinity.

On Christmas Eve the square stone building which had served as the
battery guardhouse was thrown open to the battery, decorated with pine
boughs and holly, with a spangled, candle-lighted Christmas tree in the
center. Every man received chocolate, cakes and tobacco, and a little
gift from Captain Waters. Just outside, a huge bonfire threw a red
warmth over the whole scene, not the least part of which was a barrel of
beer tapped for the occasion. Next day a holiday dinner was served, of
roast pork, mashed potatoes, creamed onions, apple sauce, cabbage salad,
apple pie, bread, butter and coffee. Of the additional rabbit, chicken
and other dinners that were served in the billets that day, this history
hath recollection but no menus.

About twenty-five men less ate the same meal New Year's day, for, on the
day before, those afflicted even slightly with scabies had been sent to
the hospital at Neuenahr, where some of them spent a prolonged vacation
amidst the already recounted enjoyments of the resort town.

When, on January 7, the battery left Dernau, it was with some regret at
parting with comfortable quarters. But that regret was forgotten when we
arrived at Ringen, a farming town on the upland away