the stock questions of
'where are you from' and 'what did you do in civil life' he launched
into a dissertation on the disadvantages of serving in an allied
command. The Scot looked at him in surprise and said, 'Why, sir, we've
been very glad to serve with the Americans, sir, and especially under
Lt. Dennis. There's an officer any man would be proud to serve under.'
That ended the discussion."

After this slight digression from the narrative, we may take up the
thread of the story of this push for Kotlas. Royal Scots and Russians
had been left in quiet possession of the upper Dvina near Seltso after
the struggle already related. But hard pressed again, they were waiting
the arrival of the company of Americans, who arrived one morning about
6:00 a. m. a few miles below our old friend, the village of
Yakovlevskoe. We marched to the village, reported to the British officer
in command at Seltso, and received the order, "Come over here as quick
as you possibly can." The situation there was as follows: The Bolos had
come back down the river in force with gunboats and artillery, and were
making it exceedingly uncomfortable for the small British garrisons at
Seltso and Borok across the river. We marched around the town, through
swamps at times almost waist deep, and attacked the Bolo trenches from
the flank at dusk. We were successful, driving them back, and capturing
a good bit of supplies, including machine guns and a pom pom. The Bolos
lost two officers and twenty-seven men killed, while we had two men
slightly wounded, both of whom were later able to rejoin the company.

"We expected a counter attack from the Bolo, as our force was much
smaller than his, and spent the first part of the night making trenches.
An excavation deeper than eighteen inches would have water in the
bottom. We were very cold, as it was October in Russia, and every man
wet to the skin, with no blankets or overcoats. About midnight the
British sent up two jugs of rum, which was immediately issued, contrary
to military regulations. It made about two swallows per man, but was a
lifesaver. At least a dozen men told me that they could not sleep before
that because they were so cold, but that this started their circulation
enough so they were able to sleep later.

In the morning we advanced to Lipovit and attacked there, but ran into a
jam, had both flanks turned by a much larger force, and were very
fortunate to get out with only one casualt