CHAPTER XI THE BATTLE
When the vast German army smashed a way through Belgium and commencedthat historic rush toward apparently doomed Paris, few there were whowere bold enough to believe the French capital could be saved. Historywould repeat itself, Paris fall to the invading hosts, and, havingsubdued poor France, the Kaiser’s victorious legions could next turn onRussia and repeat the lesson in preparedness.
Once across the French border, and following out long-since-made plansof campaign, the Germans separated into four tremendous streams of menand guns, all sweeping along prearranged lines and heading for Paris.
One of these was held up before Verdun, which fortress was fated tostand in the way of German success to the end of time, even as Gibraltartowers at the entrance of the Mediterranean. Three other living streamsforged ahead, pushing aside all opposition on the part of the Frenchforces, as well as the comparatively small British army that fought themgallantly, though unsuccessfully, at Mons and other places.
As these immense masses of armed troops approached the region of theFrench capital, the desperation of the defenders increased. But,fortunately for them, there was a man who kept his head through thenear-panic and never lost faith. This man was Joffre, the samecommander-in-chief who, in after days, continuously baffled the effortsof the most astute German generals to again take the initiative in theirhands, after they lost it at the great five-day battle of the Marne.
It was to fall to the lot of General Von Kluck, more than any of hisfellows, to break through the line of French defense and start the siegeof Paris. Those wonderful mortars that had smashed the steel-domed fortsof Liege and Namur in Belgium would most likely have made short work ofthe outlying defences of the French capital, once they came within longrange.
But something happened.
It may never be fully known to the outside world just how thewonderfully well-arranged plans of the Germans met with a hitch, or whythe army of Von Kluck, after getting so close to Paris, suddenly veeredaside toward the west and commenced to pass by on another tack. Dependupon it, he had good reasons for so doing.
This, then, was the situation on that September afternoon when Thad andhis three chums stood on the low hill and watched the invading armycoiling over the ridge like a never-ending nest of writhing serpents.The Germans had no other choice save to attack. Unless they could breakthrough the cordon that Joffre had managed to stretch before the citythey must continue their great cart-wheel sweep around toward the Marne,and with the French pushing them on, keep going back toward the borderagain, perhaps in what would be next door to a rout.
On the other hand, could they only thrust the French aside here, a gapwould open in the defences through which access could be obtained to theinner lines; and a glorious victory loom up before them.
Gradually the battle spread before the eyes of the little audience ofscouts on that isolated pinnacle two miles away. They could see chargingmasses flung back by the fierceness of the fire from hundreds of machineguns, together with others of larger bore. The ground must be coveredwith dead and wounded, still the human tide continued to pour over thelow ridge like the water passing down the sluice leading to the wheel ofa grist mill.
“I never dreamed men could be so reckless of life and death,” Allanshouted in Thad’s ear, for ordinary talking was of course next toimpossible in all that horrid din. “They seem bent on breaking throughat all costs. I think it must be they mean to tire the French out inthis one spot by continuous fighting. Then again perhaps the ammunitionmay run low, and that will give them the chance they want.”
“Oh! it’s just awful, awful!” declared Bumpus, putting a hand before hiseyes as if to shut out the sight; though a short time later found himstaring as hard as ever, such was the dreadful fascination of theever-changing war picture.
The German guns were trying to blast a way through at the same time.Here, there and everywhere the boys could see shells bursting. Oftenthese threw up geysers of earth and stones as they exploded afterburying themselves in the ground; and no doubt vast craters began toappear all along the French front, to remind those who saw them at alater date how terribly the modern machinery of war worked.
As time passed it became plainly evident that the French line washolding sturdily. Somehow this apparent fact seemed to give Thad and hischums a feeling as of relief. While they were none of them as yet whollycommitted to the cause of the enemies of the Teuton race, at the sametime they felt a deep sympathy for the French. Besides, most Americanboys always feel for the under dog in a fight, and that was what Franceseemed when pitted against the enormous resources of men and munitionsand guns controlled by the Germans.
“I guess it’s going to be a sort of draw for today, after all,”suggested Giraffe, as the sun sank lower, and the battle stillcontinued, with neither side seeming to make any perceptible advanceworth mentioning.
“But since it was the Kaiser who attacked,” Allan went on to saypositively, “it must be set down as a defeat for the Germans that theyfailed to carry their point. And depend on it, the French will be nervedfor greater things tomorrow. They have proved that they can hold theenemy up; and that will give them courage to attack in turn. Am I right,Thad?”
All of the boys were tired under the strain, but already they coulddetect signs telling them that the fighting would soon be discontinued,for that day at least. The Germans had been beaten back again and again,no matter how they varied the form of attack. If they gained smalladvantages in some sectors it was to lose in others. During the nightdoubtless hurried councils of war would be held, and by the time anotherdawn broke the battle, if continued at all, would develop upon some newbasis.
Gradually the firing dwindled down until as the sun sank out of sight,save for the regular booming of certain guns that had been given aspecial mission to carry out, the myriad batteries had ceasedoperations.
Night would soon be falling on that dreadful field. The boys couldeasily picture some of the scenes that must be taking place there, asRed Cross attendants with stretchers stumbled among the piles of deadand wounded, seeking those most in need of succor, while all around themarose groans and calls for water.
However, about this time their own condition demanded attention. Theyhad been given a small extra portion of food while with the French,enough to stave off hunger to some degree. Thad proposed that they leavetheir elevated post and seek a spot further down in the valley, wherethey might stay until day came again.
The necessity of passing a night in the open had little terror for anyof those scouts. Many times in the past had they camped out when theconditions were not half as favorable as now. Fortunately the weatherwas quite warm, and consequently they would not miss the blankets towhich they were accustomed when in camp.
Once down on the level, they entered a patch of woods and looked for aplace to throw themselves on the ground before the night closed infully. The moon was just past the full stage, and would rise after ashort interval, though clouds had gathered overhead, and a condition ofsemi-darkness might be looked for.
Finding what promised to afford them a fairly comfortable camping placefor the night, they commenced to eat the food that their friends in theFrench camp had so kindly provided. Sitting there they couldoccasionally hear some belated motor working its passage up the hill notfar distant. Then every little while would come a savage burst of firingfrom some quarter. Possibly a belated movement of troops on one side orthe other suggested a surprise attack, and this caused the outburst fromquick-firing guns.
Bumpus had managed to choke down the dry food. He remembered about thatspring, and was haunted by thoughts of cold clear water trickling downhis parched throat.
“Guess I’ll go along over and get a drink,” he remarked; “anybody elsewant to keep me company?”
It turned out that all the rest of them had been ahead of him, and werenot in need of a fresh supply just then.
“Keep your wits about you
, Bumpus,” warned Allan; “it’s getting dark,you see, and of old we know what a great fellow you always were to loseyourself when there was half a chance.”
“Yes, _please_ don’t stray away, Bumpus,” urged Giraffe indolently, ashe sprawled there at his ease on the turf; “it’d be rough on the lot ofus now if after a hard day’s tramp we had to start out and scour thewoods around here to find you.”
Bumpus snorted with disdain.
“Huh! don’t you worry about me, Giraffe,” he remarked cuttingly. “Iwasn’t hatched yesterday. I’ve picked up a _little_ intelligence sincewe were up in Maine, you must remember. And I’m not going to get lost;just put that in your pipe and smoke it, will you?”
With that he stalked off, and started toward the quarter where Thad hadtold him he would find the spring. Bumpus was never more sure ofanything in his whole life than that he could never lose himself undersuch simple conditions as existed; and yet, strange as it may seem, thatwas just what he did manage to do.
The Boy Scouts Afoot in France; or, With the Red Cross Corps at the Marne Page 11