he end of the waiting line to the effect that it would be just
as expedient to take off the slicker and stand out in the rain, that
was still falling.

The same evening orders to leave the rest camp came forth. At 6 p. m.
the regiment was assembled on the parade ground and soon started its
march back over the four miles, through Cherbourg, to the railroad
yards of the Ouest-Etat railway, which skirted the docks.

Arrived there at 7:45 p. m., sections of French trains were assembled
ready to receive the soldiers. This assemblage of coaches was of
infinitely greater variety than those of English ownership. Third
class coaches were in evidence, but of greater import were the box
cars containing the inscription, "40 Hommes or 8 Chevaux."

Forty men or eight horses may have been the official capacity but when
forty soldiers with equipment C were assigned to such a car to spend
the night and several succeeding nights, all that was needed to make
sardines was a little oil.

Several sections of the battery were fortunate in securing third-class
accommodations, but the remainder prepared to settle themselves in the
box cars, the majority of which cars turned out to have flat wheels as
the journey started.

Daylight remained abroad for the first two hours of the journey;
while the cars jolted over the rails the boys sang and kept alive the
spirit. Then came darkness. No lights in the car. Forty men stretched
out in a small box-car. Incidently it might be added that a French
box-car is about one-half the size of similar type of car used on the
railroads in the United States. It wasn't fair to kick your buddy in
the face or get on his ear. The night, however, gradually wore on and
the towns of Valognes, Isigny and Manche St. Lo, were passed. Thence
out of the Manche department, through the railroad center at Vire, in
Calvados, the special, with its side-door Pullmans, rolled on, enroute
through Flers, Coutenne and Pre during the early hours of the morning
of August 6th. Daylight dawned as Alencon was reached and at 11:30 a.
m., Le Mans loomed in sight. A half-hour's ride from Le Mans and an
half-hour lay-over was ordered. The troops were allowed to alight for
the time. A supply of iron rations was also furnished each car from
the supply car of the special.

The next stop was made at Tours from 6 to 8 p. m. A short lay-over was
also made at Poitiers at 11 p. m. The troop special was then nearing
its destination. But few on bo