*CHAPTER XVIII*
*A MESSAGE FROM THE ENEMY*
An air of confusion and extreme activity pervaded Marshal Foch'sheadquarters when Hal and Chester presented themselves to the Frenchcommander-in-chief the following morning.
The lads awakened early in spite of the fact that they had not goneearly to bed. Stubbs already had taken his departure, but he had left anote which read:
"Good-bye. You were sleeping so peacefully I didn't wish to disturbyou. You'll hear from me after I land the big scoop. Stubbs."
Upon entering the office of Marshal Foch the lads stood at attention forsome moments before the marshal noticed their presence. Then hemotioned them to approach.
"I'm very busy now," he said, indicating a mass of papers on his desk,"so I will ask you to sit down and await my pleasure. I am expectingmomentarily to have news upon which to base a communication to GeneralPershing."
He turned back to his desk, and Hal and Chester found seats in the farend of the room.
From time to time, French officers hurried in, reported to Marshal Fochand departed again as hurriedly.
Marshal Foch tapped a bell on his desk. An officer who answered thepart of private secretary arose from a desk across the room and hurriedto his commander's side.
"Any word from General Marcel?" asked Marshal Foch.
"None, your excellency."
"Strange. My information indicated that developments would begin beforenow. What day is this, Colonel?"
"The eighth of November, your excellency."
"So it is, I had forgotten. In times like these, it seems I cannot keeptrack of the days. If General Marcel has not reported in the next halfhour, you will send a messenger to ascertain why."
"Very well, sir."
The officer resumed his seat and Marshal Foch again plunged into themass of papers on his desk.
Half an hour passed and in the interval no one had entered the room.Marshal Foch's secretary arose and approached his commander.
"I shall send a messenger to General Marcel now, your excellency," hesaid.
Marshal Foch nodded, but did not raise his head from his work.
The secretary left the room. He returned five minutes later and resumedhis seat without a word.
Another half an hour passed.
Then an officer in full general's regalia entered and approached MarshalFoch.
"I am here, sir," he said, saluting.
The French commander looked up.
"Ah, General Marcel," he exclaimed. "And what have you to report, sir?"
"Nothing, your excellency."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing, sir. I have heard no word from the enemy since myconversation with you last night."
"Please repeat to me your reply of last night to the unofficialovertures made through the Swiss ambassador. My memory is not as goodas it once was, general."
"I simply repeated your words, sir. I said: 'If the German generalstaff desires to ask an armistice on the western front, the alliedforces will respect a flag of truce.'"
"And that is all, general?"
"That is all, sir. It was plain enough. The enemy knows now that heneed attempt to gain no delay by subterfuge. If he is sincere in hisappeal, a flag of truce will be sent from the German lines."
"Exactly," said Marshal Foch. "In the meantime, general, I shall orderan attack in force along the whole front."
"I shall report to you the moment there are developments," said GeneralMarcel.
"Very well, general. Let us hope the developments will come speedily.That is all."
General Marcel saluted and withdrew.
Marshal Foch swung again to his secretary.
"Summon General Magnin," he instructed.
The secretary went out hurriedly. He returned a moment lateraccompanied by a second figure, General Magnin, then acting chief ofstaff.
"General," said Marshal Foch, "I am going to order a further advance allalong the line. Will you see that the necessary orders are given, atonce?"
"At once, your excellency," said General Magnin, and withdrew withhaste.
"Now, that's what I call getting action," Hal whispered to Chester.
"You bet," was Chester's low response.
Once more the French commander became immersed in his work. He took nonotice of Hal and Chester, who, though trying to be as patient aspossible, were beginning to get restless and to fidget uneasily.
At noon Marshal Foch showed no intention of stopping work for lunch.
"I can stand it if he can, I guess," Chester told himself.
At 2 o'clock the French commander was still with the papers and mapsbefore him.
At 3 o'clock General Marcel entered hurriedly.
"General Dupree reports a flag of truce advancing from the enemy linessouth of Rocroi, sir," he said, his voice trembling under repressedemotion.
Marshal Foch was on his feet instantly.
"By 'phone?" he demanded.
"Yes, sir."
"And what else did he say?"
"That is all, sir."
"Very well. Report to your own station, general. I'll get GeneralDupree on the wire myself."
General Marcel withdrew.
"Colonel Matin!"
The French commander's secretary was on his feet instantly.
"Get General Dupree for me on the wire at once."
Colonel Matin seized the telephone. Five minutes later he said:
"General Dupree on the wire, your excellency."
Marshal Foch seized the instrument.
"Hello, Dupree," he said into the transmitter. "This is Marshal Foch.Has the flag of truce reached our lines yet?"
"No, sir," was the response over the wire. "There seems to be somedoubt that it will reach our lines."
"Some doubt? What do you mean?"
"The bearer has turned back twice, sir, and--one moment." The voicebroke off and for several moments Marshal Foch waited impatiently. Atlast General Dupree spoke again: "The flag of truce is advancing again,sir."
"Good," said Marshal Foch. "I'll keep the wire open. Inform me at onceof what the messenger says."
For perhaps five minutes Marshal Foch held the 'phone himself. Fromtime to time his eyes wandered to the mass of papers that littered hisdesk. He called suddenly:
"Major Crawford!"
Chester sprang to his feet with alacrity and advanced to the marshal'sside.
"Take this 'phone and inform me the moment General Dupree is on the wireagain."
Chester did as commanded, and sat motionless before the telephone.Marshal Foch, meanwhile, bent over his desk and buried himself in mapsand papers.
Not for a moment, it seemed, could this active man rest. He could noteven content himself the few moments necessary to await further wordfrom General Dupree. His mind was never idle. He was busy and activeevery minute he was awake. This, perhaps, was what made him the greatand successful military genius he was.
A voice came over the wire to Chester's ear.
"Your excellency?"
"One moment," said Chester.
He found it unnecessary to apprise Marshal Foch that General Dupree wason the wire again. At the first sound of the lad's voice, the Frenchcommander had left his chair and stepped to Chester's side. Now he tookthe receiver from the lad's hand.
"This is Foch," he said. "Well?"
"The message from the enemy," said General Dupree, "is signed byLudendorff. In effect, it requests a meeting between a commission ofGermans and the allies to discuss terms of an armistice."
"Hm-m," said Marshal Foch. "Signed by Ludendorff, eh?"
"You may tell the envoy," said Marshal Foch, "that to-morrow at noon Ishall be at Hirson, accompanied by my staff. A flag of truce from theenemy's lines will be respected then as now. If it is the earnest andtrue wish of the enemy to seek means of bringing an end to hostilities,I may be seen at Hirson at that hour. That is all, gene
ral."
Marshal Foch replaced the receiver and returned to his desk. Then,instead of plunging again into the mass of work awaiting his attention,he sat in thought for some time. At last he raised his head.
"It has been thoughtless of me to keep you gentlemen here all thistime," he said to Hal and Chester, "but to tell the truth for the timebeing I had forgotten your presence. Now, I don't know as it is reallynecessary for me to send any word to General Pershing. However, I shallbe in touch with him by telephone shortly, and I shall take pleasure atthat time in informing him that I am taking you with me to Hirsonto-morrow."
In spite of themselves, Hal and Chester uttered exclamations of pureastonishment.
Marshal Foch smiled.
"I know it is a strange procedure," he admitted. "Still, it will be wellif I have some one besides French officers when I meet the Germandelegates. Do you care to go?"
"Of course, your excellency," said Chester breathlessly.
"Of course, sir," declared Hal.
"Then go you shall," said Marshal Foch. "Report to me here to-morrowmorning at 6 o'clock."
Hal and Chester saluted and took their departure, their spirits high.