This was a critical period in the history of the war. French and British were sustaining severe losses, morale was weakening in the Allies' forces and each day brought news of the unbroken advance of the Teutons. Appealing to the patriotism of soldiers which had withstood reverse after reverse for four years, with few of the crumbs of success, General Petain, commanding the armies of France, sent out the following:— "Men!! The enemy is striking another blow, Outnumbering us, he has been able, during the last few days, to throw confusion into our front lines. But our reserves are rushing up! You are going to shatter his thrust and return it! Stand up, Heroes of the Marne! For your hearths and homes! For France! Forward! Petain." The luxuries of baths and new clothing were arranged for the Company at Menil la Tour, the divisional supply base four kilometers south of La Rehanne. The following days were filled with the usual occupations of resting troops,—baseball games and concerts at the Y. M. C. A. hut by the 101st Regiment band. Local talent of all kinds was plentiful and with the assistance of Johnson and Hine the Salvation Army workers sold cocoa and doughnuts to lines of men which lasted as long as the supplies held out. The dearth of company officers was felt when Lieutenant Nelson left for the school at Gondrecourt, Lieutenant Carroll having been previously called to Battalion Headquarters to act as gas officer. Moving to the east the battalion sector embraced positions near the village of Flirey. It was to relieve a French unit in some of the new territory that the third platoon left on the night of the 12th. The balance of the Company moved out the following night to take up positions in the ruins of Seicheprey and on the ridge just to the southwest of that place, protecting Beaumont, which place had served successively as a post of command for the 102d and 101st Infantry Regiments. Passing safely through the perils of "Dead Man's Curve," the Company completed the relief under the protection of midnight darkness. [Illustration: _Upper, left to right_—Capt. Frank E. Wolf, Lt. Ludz (French army, instructor), Capt. George D. Condren. _Center, left to right_—Lt. John C. Dolan, Lt. John C. Carroll, Lt. Barry Keenan, Lt. Sidney Bacharach. _Lower, left to right_—Lt. C. Lyon Rogers, Lt. Gustaf A. Nelson, Lt. John C. Carroll.] [Illustration: _Top_—Company D starting out from Niantic expecting to leave for France, Sept. 23, 1917.—Barracks, winter of 1917, Certilleux.—Sgt. Fred Klaussner teaching a mule its manners, machine gun ammunition cart to the right.—Dugout in the Ormont.—Loading the train, Lizy-sur-Ourcq, August, 1918.—Capt. Paton's dugout in the Ormont.—Main street in Seicheprey.]