We are at the retaken positions on Mont-sans-nom. Colonel Lagarde occupies a sumptuous shelter in which he has extended the hospitality of inviting me to dinner. A bouquet of flowers, sent directly to me from Châlons, has been placed on the table in a shell-made vase. The Zouaves, who saunter in and out of the colonel's P.C., are visibly astonished---- [Illustration: Convoy of ammunition in Champagne.] They are convinced that it is General Pétain himself who has sent the flowers to their colonel, in recognition of their success the day before---- One after the other the roses disappear, the last ones vanishing petal by petal---- The same day and the next, the 8th Zouaves repelled the enemy counter-attack with rose petals in their button-holes! THE JESTING POILUS, CHAMPAGNE. _May_, 1917. General J. B. Dumas is passing his troops in review to-day. Our stalwart _poilus_ have fought admirably, and, before leaving for the rear, _au repos_, must be honored---- General Dumas, who is popular with his men, stops in front of a good-looking boy, sturdy, vigorous and superbly healthy! "You remember me?" The _poilu_ stares astonished and does not reply. "_Voyons_, you know, all the same, who I am?----" ". . . . ! ! !" "_Allons_, speak----" The poilu said to himself, "If I don't tell him that I remember him, he'll murder me----" "Yes, I remember you, general, I remember you perfectly----" ". . . . ? ? ?" "You are the former station master at Bécon-les-Bruyères!" A FETICH! MONTE CARLO. _February_, 1917. "I have a favor to ask of you, captain, pardon me----" "Which, mademoiselle, I will be very pleased to grant you----" "Here is a little kerchief--I give it to you and ask that you wear it around your wrist, the next time you go into battle." "I promise it." "It will bring you good luck and I am certain you will do great things that day!" CHAMPAGNE. _April_, 1917. "Your little kerchief has been an excellent fetich, mademoiselle. I wore it on my wrist in the attack of April 17. It is a priceless star of gold, on my _croix de guerre_, and I hope you will be pleased! I offer it to you--because, it is _my_ shining star!" THE RETURN OF JEAN PAUL COCHIN, GRAND BLESSÉ, PARIS. _May_, 1917. It was at the beginning of July, 1915, when the army of the Crown Prince unloosed its big thrust in the Argonne. The battle was raging to the north of St. Menehoulde and this sector became suddenly the most active on the whole front. Jean Paul Cochin, soldier of the second class in the ---- Regiment of Infantry was sorely wounded July 7, toward four o'clock in the afternoon near Vienne-le-Château. A shell burst near the parapet of the trench in which he was stationed, shattering his two arms. He was thrown violently to the ground and lost consciousness---- Toward dusk he half-opened his eyes, but could not move; he suffered very much--his lips dry and he had a tremendous thirst.