CHAPTER XIV
A GLANCE AT THE WAR SITUATION
The apparent deadlock on the western front from the North Sea, throughthat narrow strip that remained of Belgium, Flanders and France almostto the borders of Alsace-Lorraine, had been maintained for so long nowthat the world was momentarily expecting word that would indicate theopening of what, it was expected, would be the greatest battle of thewar since Verdun.
It was known that Germany, confident because of the disruption of theRussian armies, had drawn heavily upon her forces on the easternfront. The world waited for some announcement of where the Kaiserwould strike next.
The blow was delivered in Italy. Field Marshal von Hindenburg, thegreatest military genius the war had yet produced, left his command onthe west front and hurried into Italy, succeeding General vonMackensen, who had been in command originally.
The Italian troops fought hard to maintain the ground they had won fromthe Austrians the spring and summer before; but in two days theAustrians, reinforced by German troops, and commanded by, Germanofficers, had won back all they lost in two years of war and penetratedto the heart of Italy itself.
The world stood aghast at the mighty Teutonic offensive, before whichthe Italian troops, seasoned veterans that they were, were like chaffbefore the wind.
The Allies became alarmed.
Von Hindenburg's blow in Italy, if successful threatened to dispose ofone country entirely, and would endanger the French and British troopsfrom the rear. It was decided to reinforce the Italians with Frenchand British troops.
At the same time, it became a part of the plan of the general staff tostrike hard in Flanders and in the Cambrai sector, while the Germanswere busily engaged elsewhere. It would, indeed, be an auspiciousmoment to strike.
Since the days when the Germans had been beaten back by the French atVerdun, Teuton offensives had been few and far between. It had beenthe Allies who had advanced after that, with the one exception of theAustro-German offensive being made in Italy. The ground that theBritish and French had won, now they held. From time to time theypushed their lines farther to the east, consolidated their positionsand made ready to move forward again.
It was plainly apparent that success was crowning the efforts of theBritish and French on the western front. The Germans now and thenlaunched heavy local attacks, but these apparently were more for thepurpose of feeling out the strength of their opponents than with anyidea of concerted advance.
British troops in Egypt were pushing on toward Jerusalem and it seemedthat it was only the question of time until the Holy City would fall.Once Turkish rule there had been broken, it was a foregone conclusionthat the Ottomans would never regain a foothold.
The thing of chief concern to the Allies was the internal conditions inRussia. Revolt had succeeded revolt in the land of the Muscovite, and,as rulers replaced rulers, it was hard to tell what the next day wouldbring forth.
Conditions had not reached such a pass, however, that the Germangeneral staff felt safe in releasing the bulk of its great army on theeastern front. Therefore, although it appeared that Russia was aboutto give up the fight, a million and a half of the Kaiser's best troopswere held on the Russian front.
It was known to the Allied governments that German efforts were at thebottom of the Russian troubles, and the diplomatic corps had been hardat work trying to offset this. As time passed, however, it wasrealized that Russia's aid could no, longer be counted upon.
With the entrance of the United States into the war, with the Americannation's unlimited resources in men and money, the cause of the Alliestook on a more roseate hue. True, it would require time to put theAmerican fighting machine into shape to take the field, but once itsenergies had been turned to making war, even Germany knew that Americawould put her best foot foremost.
The latest British successes had been in the vicinity of Vimy Ridge,which position, believed by the Germans to be impregnable, had beencarried by Canadian troops in a single attack. German counter-assaultsin this sector had failed to dislodge them, and there they remainedsecure.
The Canadians had launched this attack in April soon after the UnitedStates had declared war on Germany. Now, in November, their linesstill held despite the pounding of big German guns and infantry andcavalry assaults.
As the Germans continued to push forward in Italy, threatening the cityof Venice--called the most beautiful in the world--General SirDouglas Haig, the British commander-in-chief, prepared himself for ablow in Flanders, and also for a drive at Cambrai, one of the mostimportant German military centers.
Preparations for this attack were made quietly, and without knowledgeof the enemy; so, when the attack came, the Germans were takenabsolutely by surprise, and only escaped annihilation by the masterfuldirection of Field Marshal von Hindenburg, who hurried from the Italianfront in time to stem the tide.
American troops in France at this time numbered not more than 125,000men--these in addition to several detachments of engineers who hadbeen sent in advance to take over French railroad operations in orderto release the French for service on the fighting line. Many of theAmericans who had fought with the Allies in the early days of thestruggle, before Uncle Sam cast in his lot with them had returned toAmerica and joined their own countrymen in the expectation that theywould soon return to the front.
The American Army was being put in readiness as fast as possible, butit was known that months of intensive training would be necessary tofit it for its share of fighting at the front. Preparations were beingrushed, however, to send the national guard units across. These wouldform the second contingent of Americans to reach France--the firsthaving been composed only of regulars.
American troops in France so far had seen little actual fighting.Their activities had been confined mostly to beating off trench raidsand launching an occasional bomb attack on the German dugouts so closeto them. Several Americans had been killed in one of theseattacks--forming the first United States casualty list. Others had beenwounded, and some were missing, believed to be prisoners in the Germanlines.
Hal and Chester had been in the midst of the Canadian advance andcapture of Vimy Ridge. Immediately after the battle they had left thefighting front and returned to America, where they spent several monthstraining reserve officers at Fort Niagara. Because of excellentservice there, they had been honored by being numbered among officerswho went with the first expeditionary force under General Pershing.
Both lads had been among the American troops who beat off the Germantrench raid which accounted for the first United States casualties, andthey had performed other services for General Pershing, as have alreadybeen recounted.
Americans though they were, each felt that he would rather be whereaction were swifter than lying idle in the trenches with theircountrymen. It was hard telling how long it would be before theBritish and French general staffs would consider the American troopssufficiently seasoned to take over a complete sector of the battleline, and for that reason, the "Sammies," as they were affectionatelycalled at home, were unlikely to see any real fighting for some time.
In fact, it developed that when General Haig finally launched hisdrive, only British, Irish, Welsh and Scots were used. The Americanshad no hand in the fighting.
Hal and Chester, after reporting to General Pershing following theirreturn from the German lines, returned to the automobile where they hadleft McKenzie and Stubbs.
"There are no orders for us," said Hal, "so we may as well hunt ourquarters and get a little rest."
Upon inquiry they learned that their own company, in the trenches whenthey left, had been moved back to make place for another contingent.This was in line with the policy of seasoning the American troops.Their own company, therefore, they found somewhat removed from thedanger zone.
"Of course, it's better to be in the trenches, where there is a chanceof action," Chester said, "but when a fellow needs sleep, as I do, Iguess it's just as well that we're back here."
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p; "Right you are, Chester," said Stubbs, "and if you have no objectionsI'll bunk along with you boys."
"Help yourself, Stubbs," laughed Chester. "Guess we can make room foryou."
"It's daylight yet," said Stubbs, "but I'm going to bed just the same.Lead the way, Chester."
Chester needed no urging, for he could scarcely keep his eyes open.McKenzie hunted his own quarters, and soon was fast asleep.
Hal and Chester also soon were in slumberland, and Stubbs' loud snoringproclaimed that the little man's troubles were over for the moment atleast.