Page:The North Carolina Historical Review - Volume 1, Number 1.pdf/63

Rh me to go on ahead with him to look over the areas where our troops are to live. We went in his auto first to Barinehove, then to Oxelaere. We left Lieutenant Ellicott, who came with us, at the R. R. at Barinehove, after we had looked over the billeting area together. The Colonel and I then went out to Dooneart to see Lieutenant-Colonel Close who has charge of the area in which our troops are to work. This took me through some new territory which I was very glad to see: Arneke, Oehtezeele, Wemaer, Cappel and Zuytpeence. I went over thoroughly with Colonel Close regarding the work on the second line trenches from Le Brearde to Rweld. Obtained maps of the work done and a map showing the three lines of defense in front of and to the rear of Cassel. We got back to Oxelaere in time for dinner. Found that Regimental Headquarters were in a beautiful chateau. The Second Battalion and Train billeted in and around Oxelaere. The First Battalion are bivouaced at Terdeghem, as they will be the first battalion to begin the work on the trenches. The men sleep in their shelter tents and these are pitched under the trees and under the hedges, so that the tents will not be visible to airplanes. This camp is within the shelling area of the German lines. I was very glad to have Colonel Ferguson with we during the day while straightening out our camps. Many of our officers slept out in the open. The British wished to bivouac us altogether in a small area. I objected to this as it made us more conspicuous, and also a shell would do a great deal more damage than if the men were separated. Many of the shells and bombs have a slick attached to them which hits the ground first and fires the shell or bomb 12 inches to 18 inches above the ground. This causes the shrapnel and broken pieces of the shell or bomb to scatter at a height that will catch men on the going. To protect against this the men build dirt or sandbag walls three feet high around where they are to sleep. This is a protection against shrapnel as it flies out sideways. Colonel Ferguson left in the evening for Fruges.

July 1, 1918, Monday. The worst air raid we have been in took place last night. Several bombs were dropped that sounded as though they were very close and that we were the