THE ADVANCE CONTINUES
The British losses had been heavy, as was only natural in view of the
nature of the work they had accomplished. But the German casualties
had been tremendously greater. This, no doubt, was because of the fact
that the German general staff had been taken by surprise and had had no
time to prepare against the attack.
The British, according to the report of General Byng, on the first
day's offensive, had captured in the neighborhood of 5,000 prisoners.
Of artillery and munitions, great stores had fallen into the hands of
the victors.
It was a great day for Old England and all her Allies. The victory was
the greatest achieved by the Allies since the Battle of the Marne.
Cambrai was almost in the hands of the British. The importance of the
victory could not be estimated at that time, but every soldier knew
that if the enemy could be driven from Cambrai it would necessitate a
realignment of the whole German defensive system in Flanders and along
the entire battle front. With the victory the British menaced the main
German line of communications--Douai, Cambrai and St. Quentin.
Around Lavasquere, formidable defenses, known as Welsh Ridge and
Coutilet Wood, had been, captured. Flesquires had been invested and
the Grand Ravine crossed. Havrincourt was in British hands.
Trench systems north of Havrincourt and north of the west bank of the
Canal du Nord also had been captured. The Masnieres Canal was crossed,
and the British had stormed and captured Marcoing Neufwood. East of
the Canal du Nord, the villages of Graincourt and Anneux were now in
possession of General Byng's men; while west of the canal the whole
line north to the Bapaume-Cambrai road was stormed. Bonaires hamlet
and Lateau Wood had been captured after stiff fighting.
East of Epehy, between Bullecourt and Fontaine les Croisilles,
important positions also had been captured by the gallant "Tommies."
"The enemy was completely surprised."
This was the laconic message sent to Field Marshal Haig by the man who
had led the British to victory, as he rested until the morrow. Along
the entire forty-mile line the attack had been successful.
There were no American troops in General Byng's drive. The forces were
composed solely of English, Scots, Irish and Welsh--a combination
that more than once before in this war had proved too much for the
Germans to combat successfully.
It was a happy army that slept on reconquered territory on the night of
November 20,1917. Men talked of nothing but the most glorious victory
since the Marne. They knew that the offensive in all likelihood would
be resumed the following morning, and most of the troops turned in
early that they might be fit on the morrow to make the foe hunt a new
"hole." There was no doubt in the breasts of the "Tommies" that the
following day would take them nearer to Cambrai and, consequently,
Berlin.
Hal and Chester had had no active part in the first day's fighting.
They had stuck close to headquarters of General Byng, and several
times, while the fighting was at its height and the general was short
of aides, each of the lads had carried messages for him. Both chaffed
somewhat because of the fact that they were not in the midst of the
fighting, but they bided their time, confident that they; at length,
would get a chance for action.
They had followed the advance of the British troops with admiring
eyes. It was, indeed, an imposing spectacle.
"Wonder if our Canadian friends are in this attack?" asked Chester.
"I don't believe so," declared Hal. "I suppose they are still at Vimy
Ridge. They're still needed there, you know."
"That's so, but they would be good men to have around at a time like
this."
"These fellows seem to be doing fairly well, if you ask me," said Hal
dryly.
Then the conversation languished, as the lads looked toward the
fighting front.
As it developed, Hal and Chester soon were to see their Canadian
friends again. During the night several divisions of Canadians were
hurried to General Byng's support that he might have fresh blood in his
ranks when he renewed his attack against the Hindenburg defenses. And,
as it chanced, the commander of one of these divisions was the lad's
old friend, Colonel Adamson-general now, however.
Hal and Chester were standing close to General Byng when announcement
of the arrival of the Canadians was brought to him. All of the
general's aides were busy. He espied Hal and called to him.
"You will carry my compliments to General Adamson," he said, "and tell
him to go into camp for the night. Instructions will be sent him
before morning."
Hal saluted, mounted his horse, and dashed away.
General Byng summoned Chester to his side.
"Come with me," he said.
He led the way into a tent that had been erected hastily, and which
served him as field headquarters. There the general scribbled hastily
for some minutes, then passed a piece of paper to Chester.
"You will ride after your friend," he said, "and present this to
General Adamson. Then you had better turn, in for the night. You may
stay with General Adamson's command and lend what assistance there you
can."
Chester was soon speeding after Hal.
General Adamson recognized Hal instantly when the lad reported to him,
and professed pleasure at seeing him again. He also saluted Chester,
when the latter arrived a short time later.
"And so you are going to stay with me, eh?" he said. "Well, I have no
doubt I shall be able to make use of you. However, you'd better turn
in now. I suppose we'll be at it bright and early in the morning."
General Adamson proved a good prophet.
Hal and Chester met several men whom they had known when they were with
the Canadian troops at the capture of Vimy Ridge, and these expressed
delight at seeing the lads again. A young officer invited the lads to
spend the night in his quarters, and they accepted gratefully.
They followed General Adamson's injunction and turned in early. They
were very tired, and they were asleep the moment they hit their cots.
It seemed to Hal that he had just closed his eyes when he was aroused
by the sound of a bugle. It was the call to arms, and the lad sprang
to his feet and threw on his clothes. Chester also was on his feet,
and the two lads dashed from the tent together.
They made their way to General Adamson's quarters, where they stood and
awaited whatever commands, he might give them.
The Canadian troops were all under arms. Each and every man was eager
for the fray. They had not been in the battle the previous day, but
they had heard full accounts of British success and they were
determined to give a good account of themselves when the time came.
And the time came soon.
It was just growing light when the British army launched the second
day's drive.
Along the whole forty-mile line the troops under General Byng advanced
simultaneously. This time, however, the Germans were not caught
napping. They anticipated the second attack by the British, and a
terrific hail of shells and bullets greeted the Allied troops, as they
moved across the open ground.
But these men were not raw troops. Hardly a man who could not be
called a veteran. They advanced as calmly under fire as though on
parade. Men went down swiftly in some parts of the field, but as fast
as one dropped, his place was instantly filled. The lines were not
allowed to break or be thrown into confusion.
The Canadian troops advanced calmly and with a sprightliness that
seemed strange for men used to the grim work of war. There was
something in their carriage that told their officers that they would
give a good account of themselves this day.
General Adamson eyed his men with pride, as they moved off in the
semi-light. He dispatched Hal with a command to Colonel Brown,
commander of one regiment, and Chester to Colonel Loving, commander of
another. As it chanced, these two regiments were marching together, so
the two lads once more found themselves together in the midst of an
advancing army.
Their messages delivered, they did not return to General Adamson, and
without even asking permission of their superiors, ranged themselves
behind. Colonel Loving, and pressed forward with the troops.
Colonel Loving and Colonel Brown, besides Hal and Chester, were the
only mounted men with the Canadian advance. Ten minutes after the lads
had gone forward, Colonel Loving dismounted and turned his horse over
to one of his men, who led it toward the rear. Colonel Brown followed
suit. Hal and Chester did likewise.
"Good idea," commented Chester. "We make too good targets there."
Hal nodded, and looked toward the front.
The British tanks again led the way. Bullets whistled over the heads
of the Canadians. Hal saw that the first-line German defenses were
less than 200 yards away.
"Good." he told himself. "Now for the battle."
The first British tank nosed into the German trench.