never do. We just wanted to have something to write you about, to remind
you that we ARE a part of the American E. F., although 'isolated.'

"With best wishes to your paper and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year to all the boys, I'll close with the consoling assurance in my
heart that we'll meet you back on Broadway, anyway.

C. B. KNIGHT, Corp. "Hq" Co., 339th Inf.,
American E. F., Archangel, Russia."

XXII

WINTER ON THE RAILROAD

We Come Under French Flag--Thanksgiving Day At Verst 455--Exploration
And Blockhouse Building--First Occupation Of Bolsheozerki--Airplane
Bombs Our Own Front Line Troops--Year's End Push On Plesetskaya
Fiasco--Nichols Makes Railroad Sector Impregnable--Bolo Patrol Blows Up
Our Big Six--Heavy Drive By Reds At Winter's End--"I" Company Relieves
French-Russian Force--Valorous Conduct Of Men Gives Lie To Charges Of
Loss Of Morale.

In the narrative telling of the fighting on the Vaga and Dvina, we have
already seen that the Red Guards had disillusioned us in regard to the
quiet winter campaign we hoped and expected. Now we shall resume the
story of the Railroad, or Vologda Force, as it had become known, and
tell of the attempted Allied push on Plesetskaya to relieve the pressure
on the River Fronts.

After our digging in at Verst 445 in early November, a Company of
Liverpools came from Economia to aid the French infantry and American
and French machine gunners, supported by French artillery, to hold that
winter front. The American units who had fought on the railroad in the
fall were all given ten days rest in Archangel. Soon the Americans were
once more back on the front. And it started off uneventful. A French
officer, Colonel Lucas, had come into command of the Vologda Force.
American units were generously supplied with the French Chauchat
automatic rifles, and ammunition for them, and with French rifles and
tromblons to throw the rifle grenades. Earnest business of learning to
use them.

Those who were stationed at field headquarters of the Front Sector of
the Vologda Force, which was at Verst 455, will recollect with great
pleasure the Thanksgiving Day half-holiday and program arranged by Major
Nichols, commanding the American forces. He gave us Miss Ogden, the Y.
W. C. A. woman from d. o. U. S. A. to read President Wilson's
proclamation. How strange it seemed to us soldiers standing there under
arms. And Major Moodie the old