As the captain pointed out, an attacking force has always this advantage: that they can choose where and when to strike. And this made the task of quick concentration of forces to meet this overwhelming blow incredibly difficult. The English army had, however, by its stubborn resistance, made up in part for this difficulty. And, as compensation for its heavy losses, exacted a terrible reprisal of blood from its enemy. At the time of our arrival near the left flank of the German army, the attacking forces of the enemy, roughly outlined, was not unlike a gigantic U, the convex part of it pointing towards Amiens. The allied armies had not only the disadvantage of inferior numbers, but of difficult concentration. They must march around this curved line in order to concentrate at the point of attack. On the other hand, the foe could reinforce every part of his advanced line by marching men across the U. The captain’s talk helped us to understand the situation, and the reasons why we Americans were assembled in force. How, or when, we were to have a chance to prove our American temper, we did not know. But we did understand the power given to a united command. Though at first our work would be of minor importance, it was soon apparent that it was not to be that of holiday soldiers. We were to contend against an army of wonderful efficiency. “Dem guys,” said our New York boy, “can fight, an’ don’t you forgit it. We’s got to give them a wallup, or take some.” There was a general feeling that we must meet a supreme test. We had scarcely got into these trenches before there came a trial of endurance under fire. First a great flock of air craft, with inquisitive noses, came buzzing above us. Our big war birds, moving in spirals, flew up to meet them and, if possible, put them to flight. We could see, high in air, little puffs of smoke of gun fire; sometimes hear the chatter of machine-guns, and even the buzz of their propellers and sharp report of rifles, which showed that they were “out a-gunning.” Sweeping around in curved lines, circling upward, darting downward, the combating planes fought with daring temerity, a wonderful battle in the air. We saw one plane, struck by a bomb, fall fluttering downward a thousand feet, right itself, and escape over the lines. However tame this may seem in recital, it was a thrilling sight to see. At first, the enemy began to fire gas shells over us, and we had to put on our gas masks. Occasionally puffs of the poisonous stuff would reach us; but we were thankful that the shells were mostly going over our heads; for they were so numerous that they gave one continuous whistle.