THE GERMAN COUP FAILS.
Wrapped tightly in a great fur overcoat that the officer had insisted
on lending him, Hal snuggled back comfortably in the large automobile
as it sped over the ground toward General French's headquarters.
The chauffeur was a speed demon and the huge machine covered the
ground much more quickly than the one in which the little party of
British had started on their mission. It was not long, therefore,
before the lad found himself descending from the car. Another moment
and he once more stood before his commander.
"So, you got back safely, eh," exclaimed General French. "Young
Crawford gave me your report, and I was afraid that you would be
captured. Did you learn anything further?"
"Yes, sir," Hal made reply. "I have learned the number of men in each
command, their positions and all details."
"What!" exclaimed General French in great surprise.
"Yes, sir," continued Hal, and reaching in his pocket he drew out the
documents given him by the German officer. "Here they are, sir."
General French took the papers from the lad's hand, and glanced at
them quickly. After a brief perusal, he laid his hand on Hal's
shoulder.
"You have done well," he said quietly. "I shall not forget it. You
may go now, for I doubt not that your friend is greatly worried over
you. I will say this: You have rendered an invaluable service to
England--one that the King shall hear of. I have already taken steps
to thwart this German coup, and if we are successful the credit will
be mainly due you."
Hal saluted and with glowing heart left the general's tent.
"Now to find Chester," he said.
He had little difficulty in doing this, for Chester was still making
his quarters with Lieutenant Anderson. Approaching the lieutenant's
tent, Hal walked up cautiously.
"I want to surprise them," he told himself.
Inside he heard the sound of voices, and he paused to listen.
"I'm afraid he won't ever get back," came Chester's voice. "I should
have insisted on accompanying him. I shouldn't have let him go alone."
"Still," said Lieutenant Anderson, "he was in command. We had to obey
him."
"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 horsemen, 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 anticipated 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 nobly 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 shore 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 assaults made by the
Kaiser's troops in the days that were to follow. Passage 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!"