rs sought out washer-women. The peasant
women welcomed the opportunity of earning a few francs doing American
washing. The more active of the washer-women spent entire days washing
at the river for the soldiers. At first one franc was a standard price
for having a week's laundry done, but as days passed and business
became brisker, rates went up to two, five and in some instances
higher.

To the Americans the town of Montmorillon, as was the case of most of
the ancient towns visited in France, presented an impression of
isolation. Houses built during the 12th century with their high walls
surrounding and barricaded entrances, were greatly in evidence; houses
of such nature, history records, as furnishing protection in the days
when feudalism fought at spear-points. The stages and wages of war
advanced with the centuries, but not so with the ancient French town;
where the peasants live content with no sewerage or drainage system;
content to pursue the antiquated customs. To be thrown in the midst of
this 12th century environment was productive of lasting impressions on
the part of the American troops who were suddenly transplanted from a
land of 20th century civilization and advancement, to an old and
foreign soil.

The first night the 311th was in Montmorillon fire broke out in "The
Baines," an ornate and modern French homestead near the Cafe du
Commerce. Several officers of the 311th regiment had secured quarters
in the Baines. They were forced to vacate by the fire. Bucket brigades
was the only fire protection the prefecture afforded its citizenry.
The fire drew a large crowd of the new soldiers, a score of whom took
active charge of fighting the blaze; giving the Frenchmen a real
exhibition in the art of bucket-brigade fire extinction.

Time, however, was not to view French scenery. Training activity was
the official topic of interest. It was decreed that instruction in the
school of the soldier should begin immediately. Fifty per cent of the
regiment comprised new recruits, who had been assigned to the outfit
previous to departure from Camp Meade. It was necessary to begin the
training at the beginning.

Out from the town, among the open farm lands, a large grain field was
secured as a drill field for the battery. It required a thirty-five
minute hike from the battery billeting area to reach the drill field.
This hike was in order every morning and afternoon. The time on the
drill field was spent in learning th