the deathly struggle
safe and sound, it would be a pleasure to me some day to read over
these notes of battle or bivouac. I thought, further, that my people
would be interested in them. So I tried to set down my impressions in
my intervals of leisure. Days of misery, days of joy, days of
battle.... What volumes one might write, if one were to follow our
squadrons day by day in their march!

I preferred to choose among many memories. I did not wish to compose
memoirs, but only to evoke the most tragic or the most touching
moments of my campaign. And, indeed, I have had only too many from
which to choose.

I shall rejoice if I have been able to revive some phases of the
tragedy in which we were the actors for my brothers-in-arms.

Further, I gladly offer these "impressions" to any non-combatants they
may interest. They must not look for the talents of a great
story-teller, nor the thrilling interest of a novel. All they will
find is the simple tale of an eyewitness, the unschooled effort of a
soldier more apt with the sword than with the pen.

M.D.

_The Editor of SOLDIERS' TALES will be glad to read diaries or
notebooks of those returning, in any capacity whatsoever, from the
Front with a view to inclusion in the Series. Contributions must
be strictly truthful and should be written with no effort at fine
writing. They are intended to tell truthfully the experiences and
the feelings of the writers. They should be sent by registered
post to the Editor, "Soldiers' Tales," 21, Bedford Street, W.C.,
and they may be accompanied by sketches and photographs. All
contributions printed will be well paid for. Contributions should
be of 30,000 words and upwards in length._

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I. HOW I WENT TO THE FRONT 1

II. THE FIRST CHARGE 57

III. RECONNOITRING COURGIVAULT 76

IV. THE JAULGONNE AFFAIR 102

V. LOW MASS AND BENEDICTION 152

VI. A TRAGIC NIGHT IN THE TRENCHES 178

VII. SISTER GABRIELLE 226

VIII. CHRISTMAS NIGHT 258

I. HOW I WENT TO THE FRONT

The train was creeping along slowly in the soft night air. Seated on a
truss of hay in the