CHAPTER XVI
CLOSING THE GAP
A sheet of flames leaped from the American rifles. A blasting torrentof death poured from the machine guns. The heavy field artillery, thathad the range to a dot, tore gaping holes in the serried German ranks.Great lanes opened up in the advancing hosts. The target was broad andthere was no need to take aim, for every bullet was bound to find amark.
The enemy ranks faltered before that terrific fire and fell back,leaving hundreds of dead and wounded on the open space in front of thelines, while hundreds more were strewn along the barbed wireentanglements.
But the German commanders were prodigal of the lives of their men, andafter a brief time for re-forming, the divisions came on again, only tobe hurled back again with still more fearful losses. A third attemptmet with a similar result. The Americans were standing like a rock.
"Guess Fritz is getting more than he bargained for," grinned Billy, asthe Germans were forming for another attack.
"Yes," agreed Frank, "but he'll try again. He'll stand a whole lot ofbeating."
For several hours the fight continued with a bitterness that had notbeen paralleled before in the whole course of the war. Again and againthe enemy attacked, only to be beaten back before the stonewall defense.
But the Americans were not satisfied with merely defending theirposition. About two hours after noon they organized a counterattack.With splendid vim and ardor, and in a dashing charge, they smashed thedivision confronting them, driving them back in confusion and bringinghundreds of prisoners back with them to the trenches.
"I guess that will hold them for a while," crowed Billy, as they restedfor a few minutes after their return.
"We certainly slashed them good and plenty," exulted Frank, as hewashed up a scratched shoulder that had been struck by a splinter ofshrapnel.
"If the rest of the line is holding as well as our fellows, the drivewill be ended almost as soon as it began," remarked Bart.
"And Heinie was going to walk all over us, was he?" grinned Billy."He's got another guess coming."
But their amazement was great a few minutes later when the order camefor the regiment to fall back.
"Fall back!" howled Billy when he heard the order. "What is this, ajoke?"
"Why should we fall back, when we've just licked the tar out of theHeinies?" growled Bart.
"Orders are orders," said Frank briefly. "I suppose our commandersknow what they're doing. But it certainly is tough luck."
Their officers no doubt felt an equal chagrin, but the need wasimperative. The Germans had struck along a front of fifty miles. Atmany points they had encountered a resistance as fierce and determinedas that put up by the old Thirty-seventh and its companion regiments ofthe same division.
But at others they had been more successful. They had introduced a newkind of tactics that had never been used before on the western front,although it had been employed successfully in Russia. These were theso-called Von Hutier tactics whereby, when a division was used up,instead of falling back it simply opened up and let a fresh divisionpass through and take up the burden.
The old plan had been to clear up everything as one went along. Theidea of the new tactics was to press swiftly ahead even if they leftbehind them machine-gun nests and strong enemy positions. These couldbe cleaned up later one by one, while in front the swift advance wasintended to demoralize the opposing army and throw it out of formationby the very speed of the progress.
The plan, like every other, had its weak points. It involved a veryheavy loss of men because of the masses in which they moved forward,and it also exposed its flank by penetrating too rapidly into the hostlines before the artillery could be brought up for support. But ifsuccessful, it was almost sure to break the enemy's line and throw itinto confusion.
Later on the Allies were to learn how they might most easily frustratethese tactics. But at the start of the great drive the plan met withconsiderable success because of its novelty.
It was this that had brought the command to retreat. The Britishforces on the right wing of the Allied armies had been forced to giveway. The line had not been broken, but it had been badly bent. TheBritish retreated doggedly, fighting with the splendid heroism that wasin accordance with their traditions, and at no time did the retreatbecome a rout. But in order to keep the line straight the Americanforces too were ordered to fall back, even though they had beensuccessful on their section of the line.
"It's a shame!" growled Billy, as the retirement began. "It makes mesore to have those Heinies think they've got us going."
"We'll come back," said Frank cheerfully. "It's a good general thatknows when to retreat as well as to advance. We're only going to getspace enough to crouch for a spring."
The division withdrew in good order, keeping up a rear-guard actionthat kept the enemy at a respectful distance. When night fell theAmericans had reached the position assigned to them, and the backwardmovement was halted. The troops entrenched, and with the Allied linestraightened out once more, faced the foe that it had decisivelydefeated earlier in the day.
"Nothing to do till tomorrow," exclaimed Frank as he threw himself onthe ground.
"Don't fool yourself that way," said Corporal Wilson, who had just comeup and heard the remark. "Unless I lose my guess you've got somethingto do tonight. Didn't you tell me the other day that you understoodhow to handle a motorcycle?"
"Why, yes," said Frank. "I've ridden one a good deal. I won a race onCamport Fair Grounds a couple of years ago."
"Then you're just the man the general wants to see," replied Wilson."He sent a message to the colonel asking for the services of a man whowas cool and plucky, and who could also ride a motorcycle. I don'tknow of any one else who can fill the bill better than you."
"I'll be glad to do whatever's wanted of me," replied Frank, and with aword of farewell to his comrades he accompanied the corporal toheadquarters.
Here he was ushered into the presence of a group of officers who wereporing over a large map spread out upon a table.
"Is this the young man you were telling me about, Colonel?" asked thegeneral, a tall, powerfully built man, looking sharply at Frank frombeneath a pair of bushy eyebrows.
"Yes, General," replied the colonel. "Captain Baker vouches for hiscoolness and courage and his quick thinking in an emergency. And I'mtold he understands all about motorcycles."
"Just the man," commented the general. "I want you," he continued,addressing Frank, "to carry a message for me to the British commanderon our right. Our division has lost touch with him and the fieldtelephone is not working. Probably it has been cut by the enemy. Themessage is most important and I want you to make all the speed you can.Go and get ready now and report to your captain, who will hand you thepapers. He will have a machine ready for you. That is all."
Frank hurried back and made his preparations, which were brief. Whilehe worked he told his eager companions of the errand with which he hadbeen entrusted.
"Wish I were going with you," remarked Bart.
"Same here," said Billy.
"That would be dandy," agreed Frank.
He shook hands with them and hurried away to the captain's quarters,where he found that officer waiting for him with the papers.
"There's no answer," he said, as he handed them over. "When you'vedelivered the papers your work is done. Good luck."
Frank thrust the papers in his pocket after receiving full directionsas to his route. The motorcycle was standing at the door. It was apowerful machine of the latest make and everything about it suggestedstrength and speed. He noticed that there was a saddle in the rear anda thought came to him.
"I see that this machine will carry double," he said. "Would you mindif I took a companion with me? The machine will carry two as swiftlyas it will one. Then, too, if one of us were hurt or shot the otherone could still go on with the message."
"An excellent idea," said the captain after pondering a moment. "
Gethim, but make haste."
Frank rushed back to his chums.
"Which one of you wants to go with me?" he asked breathlessly.
"I do," they yelled in chorus.
"Sorry," laughed Frank, "but there's only room for one. Toss a coin."
The luck favored Bart, much to Billy's disappointment. In a jiffyFrank and Bart had bidden Billy good-by, jumped to their places, andwith a leap the powerful machine darted off.
The night was clear, and as soon as they were away from the camp Frankhad no trouble in finding the road that he had been ordered to take.It was a good one in ordinary times, but now it had been torn by shellsfrom the German guns in many places and care had to be taken to avoid aspill. The shaded light threw its rays a considerable distance ahead,but they were going at a speed that did not leave them much time toavoid obstacles even after they were detected.
The road swung around in a wide semi-circle and led through a number ofFrench villages. These the Army Boys found in great confusion. Theapproach of the Huns was a terrible threat to the towns that might fallinto German hands. What the enemy had done in the occupied parts ofFrance and Belgium had given warning of what any other places theymight capture would have to expect.
Wagons were being hastily piled with household belongings, men wereshouting, children were crying, and the whole scene was desolate andpitiful beyond description.
The roads were so congested at these places that rapid progress wasimpossible. They had to thread their way among the crowd of vehicles,and in some cases were compelled to resort to the fields. But theymade up for this on other stretches, and were congratulating themselvesthat on the whole they were making pretty good time when suddenly theywere startled by a number of rifle shots and bullets whizzed byuncomfortably close.
"It's the Huns!" cried Frank.
"I didn't know they'd got as close as this!" exclaimed Bart. "Moregas, Frank! Quick!"
There were hoarse commands to halt, and another volley followed thefirst. At the same time a number of dark figures threw themselves inthe road, shouting and waving their hands.
Frank leaned forward, threw on all speed, and the machine respondedwith a leap that almost unseated the riders. The crowd in frontscattered as the machine rushed at them, but one of them was not quickenough and was hurled twenty feet away.
More shots followed the daring riders, but they were now beyond range.For another mile they kept up the killing pace and then Frank slowed upa little.
"Ran right into their arms that time," he ejaculated.
"We were mighty lucky to come through with a whole skin," replied Bart.
"More than the machine has done, I'm afraid," remarked Frank. "I cantell by the way she runs that there's something wrong with the tires."
He looked behind, and seeing no signs of pursuit, he stopped themotorcycle and dismounted.
Something had indeed happened to the tires. Both the front and rearones had been punctured by bullets. The air had gone out of them.
"Hard luck," exclaimed Bart.
"Never mind," returned Frank. "We'll ride her flat as long as we canand if worse comes to worse we'll ride her on the rims. We've got toget that message to the general no matter what happens."
"We'll get it there if we have to travel on our hands and knees,"affirmed Bart.
"It won't come to that, I hope," laughed his companion, as he bound theflat tires fast with straps. Then he settled himself again in his seatand started the machine.
It went along more slowly now, and their troubles were increased by thefact that their route had carried them into a main road that was filledwith motor lorries--huge trucks loaded with men and supplies thatrushed on with the speed almost of an express train.
The lorries had the right of way, and individual riders had to look outfor themselves. Sometimes they came down two abreast, filling thewhole width of the road, and in such cases the boys had to dismount anddraw to the side of the road until they had passed. If their machinehad been in condition, they might have kept ahead by sheer speed, butin its present crippled state they would have been run down. And to berun down by one of those Juggernauts would have meant instant death.
On one such occasion they were hugging the fence, with their machinestanding between them and the road. A lorry came thundering by, butjust as it was nearly opposite, it swerved and struck the machine. Itwas torn from Frank's hand and hurled in front of the lorry which ranover and completely wrecked it.
The lorry tore on, leaving the two chums looking at each other inconsternation.
"That's worse by long odds than the German bullets," exclaimed Frank."I guess we'll have to do the hands and knees stunt you were talkingabout a little while ago."
"We must be pretty near to the English general's headquarters nowanyway, aren't we?" asked Bart.
Frank consulted his route by the aid of a flashlight that he carriedwith him.
"About two miles," he announced. "Put on some speed now, Bart. We'llrun most of the way and jog-trot the rest."
They let no grass grow under their feet, and fifteen minutes later theyhad reached the general's headquarters and were ushered into hispresence. He seemed to be greatly agitated and was talking with greatemphasis to a group of officers who surrounded him.
He took the papers that the boys had brought and read them overhurriedly.
"Very good," he announced briefly. "There is no answer. Were yourorders to go back to your regiment to-night?"
"No, sir," replied Frank.
"In that case my orderly will find quarters for you," replied thegeneral, and he gave directions to an officer who took them in chargeand saw them safely bestowed for the night.
"That was some wild ride?" grinned Frank, as they were getting readyfor sleep.
"It sure was," laughed Bart, "especially that part where the Germanbullets were zipping all around us. Wait till we tell Billy about it.He'll be green with envy."
"Well, we carried out our orders anyway," said Frank. "I'm glad thatwe'll be able to tell the captain so tomorrow morning."
But they did not report to their captain the next morning, nor forseveral following mornings, for when they woke they found that acondition had developed that was full of peril to the Allied cause.
The German plan had been to strike at the junction point of the Alliedarmies. If they could separate them there would be a chance to turnupon one of them and crush it with overwhelming forces and then attheir leisure destroy the other.
In this they had come very near succeeding. A threatening gap haddeveloped between two of the most important armies that were holdingthat portion of the front. The armies had lost touch with each otherand the gap had gradually widened until at one place the armies wereeight miles apart.
The only helpful thing about the situation was that the Germansthemselves did not know of the gap until it was too late to takeadvantage of it. The very speed with which they had pushed forward hadthrown their forces into confusion. Brigades and regiments had becomebadly mixed and it took some time to straighten matters out.
But if the Germans did not know how matters stood, the Alliedcommanders knew it only too well. It was this that explained theagitation that the boys had noticed in the general the night before.He had been called upon to close the gap. Upon his shoulders restedfor the time the salvation of the Allied cause.
If he had had sufficient forces at his command, the problem would havebeen comparatively simple, provided he had been given time to solve it.But he had neither time nor men. He had only fifty cavalrymen. Helacked guns and ammunition. The hard-pressed armies at the right andleft were battling desperately against the on-rushing German hordes andcould spare him little.
"Looks as if he had to make bricks without straw," said Frank to Bartthe next morning, when the state of things had been explained by theorderly who had taken them in charge.
"It's a case of must," said Bart, "and from the squint I had at thegeneral last night he's the one who ca
n do the job if it can be done atall."
"Will you stay and help?" asked the orderly. "Every man will help.The general's picked up three hundred American engineers working on aroad nearby. Every one of them has thrown down his pick and shouldereda rifle."
"Bully for the engineers!" cried Frank.
"Will you stay?" asked the orderly. "Of course you can return to yourown command if you want to."
"Will we stay?" exclaimed Frank. "Give me a gun. I know my captainwould be willing."
"You can't drive us away," Bart almost shouted.
It was a scratch army that the general finally got together. Some ofhis men had never handled a gun before. Some were drivers, some weretelegraph linemen, some were cooks. But he made the most of what hehad. He himself was here, there and everywhere, having trees felled toobstruct the roads, planting machine guns in strategic places, diggingshallow trenches, resting neither by day or night.
Frank and Bart worked like beavers. They were placed in charge ofmachine-gun crews, and their deadly weapons kept spitting fire untilthey were almost too hot to handle. Again and again they beat backGerman detachments. They fought like fiends. They never expected tocome out of that fight alive. The odds seemed too tremendous.
"It's like Custer's last charge," panted Frank. "There wasn't one ofhis troopers left alive. But I'll bet that not one of them was sorryhe was there."
"I'm glad that motorcycle carried double," replied Bart. "I'd havebeen cheated out of a lot of lovely fighting if it hadn't."
They fought desperately, savagely, their bodies tired to the breakingpoint, but their courage never failing. And at last they won out. Thearmies rejoined each other. The gap was closed. And Frank and Bartrejoiced beyond measure that they had been able to do their part in theclosing.
"Some fellows have all the luck," remarked Billy, when they hadrejoined their regiment two days later, and were telling him all aboutit. "Now if that coin we flipped had only come down heads instead oftails----"
"Stop your grouching," laughed Frank. "You'll have all the fightingthat's good for you by the time we've driven the boches over the Rhine."