The Boy Allies on the Firing Line Part 30

"That is true," replied Chester, "but just the same if ill befalls him I shall feel that I am partly to blame. Besides, we had the information we went after. What had he to gain by staying and putting himself in the enemy's power?"

Stepping quietly into the tent, Hal advanced to the center before he was observed.

"A whole lot, Chester," he said quietly.

Chester and Lieutenant Anderson were upon their feet in an instant, and one had him by either hand, wringing it enthusiastically.

"Stop it, stop it," laughed Hal. "You'll wring my arms off."

"And so you are back safely," said Chester, looking long at his friend.

"Yes, I'm back," said Hal.

"And what did you learn? Anything else?"

"Lots," replied Hal, "but let me get out of this wet German uniform;"

having done which he plunged into a story of his experiences after they had left until his return to General French's tent.

"And General French says," he concluded, "that steps have been taken to spoil the Kaiser's plan."

"Good," said Chester and Lieutenant Anderson in one voice.

"Well," said Chester, after some further talk, "I guess we might as well turn in. Anderson and I were unable to sleep because you had not returned. We can rest easier now."

Almost completely exhausted, the three were soon slumbering deeply.

The day's work had been strenuous indeed, and there is no telling how long they would have slept on had not the sound of a bugle, calling "To arms!" roused them.

Quickly they leaped up, and throwing on what few clothes they had removed, were soon at their posts. The whole army was ready to move at a moment's notice.

The first glimmer of the morning sun appeared over the horizon as the command for a general advance rang out. Slowly at first, then faster, the great British fighting machine moved on, squadron upon squadron of cavalry leading the way.

There were no bridges across the little river, nor were there boats enough to carry the army across. But under the direction of skillful engineers, the best in the world, pontoon bridges sprang up as if by magic. Before the Germans were fully aware of what was going on, several thousand men had been hurled across the little stream.

These--advancing in the face of the overwhelming force of Germans, rushed forward to check them--fought off the enemy while other British troops were poured over the Marne. Desperately did the Germans try to drive them back. Time after time they charged, only to be hurled back again by the British hors.e.m.e.n, and the infantry that now had had time to form after crossing the river.

Artillery was brought into action to force the British back across the little stream. But it was no use. The Germans had been caught unprepared. Already Gen. Von Kluck had weakened his defense by sending some of his men south to take their places in the force with which the Kaiser and his generals expected to execute their great coup.

Evidently the danger of a sudden attack had not been antic.i.p.ated by the German general staff. That the British, without the support of their French allies, farther to the south, would take the offensive, was a factor that had apparently been overlooked.

The surprise was practically complete. The British army on the continent at this time numbered slightly more than 100,000 men.

Probably two-thirds of this whole force was hurled across the Marne in this battle, which, starting as a skirmish, soon grew into one of the fiercest and bloodiest struggles of history.

Scotch Highlanders, Irish troops, Sikh legions, recently arrived from India, British troops from other of her foreign possessions and the English themselves stood shoulder to shoulder, fighting n.o.bly and driving back the foe.

But the Germans contested every inch of the ground. Outnumbering the British as they did, however, they were slowly compelled to retreat, the British pursuing them relentlessly.

Apparently it was not General French's plan to push the battle too strongly now. It was merely his intention to deliver such a blow as would make the coup planned by the Germans impracticable.

For seven solid hours the battle for the opposite sh.o.r.e of the Marne continued, both sides fighting desperately and heroically. Then, as the Germans continued to retreat, General French called a halt. The British fell to work digging trenches in the recently won ground, and preparing to resist an attack should one be delivered.

This first skirmish on the eastern banks of the Marne, while possibly unimportant, when viewed in the light of later events, became one of the greatest factors in the offensive movements of the Allies.

Now that the English had obtained a foothold upon the opposite side they did not relinquish it, in spite of heavy a.s.saults made by the Kaiser's troops in the days that were to follow. Pa.s.sage across the stream for the rest of the allied army was now comparatively easy, for the English, already having a foothold, stood ready to drive off the Germans as reinforcements crossed.

And if the action at the Marne was one of the deciding factors in the offensive movement of the Allies, the credit of it is undoubtedly due largely to Chester and Hal, who, at the risk of their own lives, enabled the British troops to catch the Germans in their own trap.

That the boys' value in this important battle was recognized, is evidenced by the fact, that, when the army once more had come to a halt, General French summoned the two lads to him, and with a hand on the shoulder of each, and his whole staff grouped about him, said:

"You have done well! England is proud of her kinsmen!"

CHAPTER XXVI.

TRAPPED.

It was two days later. The battle was raging fiercely. On all sides men were dropping singly, in pairs, in tens and in hundreds. Since early morning, when an advance guard of Germans had approached the British line, the struggle had continued without a minute's breathing s.p.a.ce.

Gradually giving way before the English attacks, the German troops fell back mile after mile, the English, in the section of the field where the fighting had been going on, pursuing them closely. Unmindful of their support on either side, the British still pressed forward, until now they were far beyond either flank.

Suddenly from either side of the English troops came a thundering volley. Taken by surprise, the British halted suddenly, while men tumbled to the earth on every hand.

Before the officer in command could give the order to fall back, a force of Germans was hurled into their rear, completely cutting them off from any possible hope of aid from that direction. A thousand men were in this little force now completely surrounded.

But the officer in command of the British was not of the caliber to surrender. He was a typical son of Albion, a fighting man, none other than Captain Harry Anderson, whose part in the expedition across the Marne had raised him to that rank.

Advancing with his command, he soon found himself the ranking officer still on his feet. Hal and Chester, who the night before had shared his quarters, at the call to arms had plunged into the thick of the conflict alongside the gallant captain. In spite of the terrific carnage, in spite of the shot and sh.e.l.l that fell about them, they had so far escaped injury.

Perceiving that retreat was cut off, Captain Anderson conceived a possible escape. With a loud cry of "Forward!" to his men, he dashed right into the face of a terrible rifle and artillery fire.

Men dropped as though mowed down by the wind, but the little column halted not. They had spread out, fan-wise, at the command of Captain Anderson, to avoid as much as possible the sweeping fire of the Germans, and they now pressed forward at a run.

Completely surprised at this sudden charge by the little body of men, that the German officers evidently believed entirely in their power, and still more surprised by their desperate offense in the face of overwhelming odds, the Germans, for a moment, gave way.

That moment was enough for the success of Captain Anderson's strategy.

At the point of the bayonet the British burst through the German line, dealing out death on every hand as they did so. A moment and the Germans rallied, but it was too late.

The British were now through the barrier of steel, and had taken refuge behind a little ridge. And now the reason for the captain's sudden charge became apparent.

Directly ahead was a large house, and for this refuge the British dashed madly. The first man to reach the door tried the k.n.o.b. The door was locked. From behind came the plod of the heavy German feet and the sharp crack of rifles.

There was not a moment to lose. With a swift blow of his rifle b.u.t.t, the British soldier smashed in the door, and into this opening the troops poured. A second squad had dashed around to the rear of the house and performed a similar operation. In less time than it takes to tell it injured and uninjured alike were in the house. The ground outside, however, was strewn with their companions.

Quickly every window in the house was manned, the doors barred. And the British stood silently awaiting the approach of the enemy, which they knew would come in a very few minutes.

"If it were not for the artillery we could hold this place indefinitely," said Captain Anderson.