capable of handling nine foot logs for a 

 maximum length. We had 48 inch inserted tooth At- 

 kins saws, and the way they sawed through shrapnel 

 was nothing slow. We never had a filer. Anyone who 

 had time trued up the teeth or put in new ones as 

 was needed. The engine was short of the required 

 power; so we took out every other tooth from the saw 

 and it ran better. As the saw would only cut about 

 a 22 inch line we had to split many of the logs. We 

 found the explosive out in the woods. I don't know 

 whether it was T.N.T. or just plain powder, but any- 

 way it split the logs. 



We had to keep the freshly sawn lumber camouflag- 

 ed with branches or burlap, because of enemy aircrafts. 

 We also had a large netting of camouflage spread over 

 the top of the mill. We ran a few nights before we 

 had the mill enclosed, but we kept a close watch for 

 enemy airplanes. 



The material produced was similar to that produced 

 at Catinois, except that a great deal more lumber 

 was sawn for barracks construction. Our, first orders 

 were to saw all cross ties, and when Colonel Bell 

 first wanted to build some barracks for his men we 

 could not furnish him the lumber. However, he soon 

 convinced higher authorities that he had to have bar- 

 racks, for orders soon came to saw all barracks 

 lumber. We were able to saw about 10,000 a shift, or 

 20,000 a day with a total crew including cooks and 

 everyone of only 36 men. It took 120 men to produce 

 that cut at Chatinois with the old French mill. 



These small portable mills could be moved rapidly 

 if there was need. At another detachment one of 



10 



