CHAPTER V
ON THE FIRING LINE
"Look at the guns back there," shouted Ralph, as the company marchedback to get their first breakfast after three hours of hard work.
"Come on, boys!" said the corporal in charge, smiling at the boys."You've worked pretty hard for lads of your age; come and have somethingto eat."
"So we will," said Alfred; "but what are the guns doing back there?" heasked, as he pointed out a battery which had limbered up and waswheeling into position.
"You will see in a few moments," replied the corporal, and before theyreached the mess wagon the guns began to roar.
"How far away are the Germans?" asked Ralph.
"About two and a half miles, I should judge," replied the corporal,looking at the battery.
"How can you tell by looking at the guns?" asked Ralph.
"By their angle," was the answer.
Before they ceased speaking, the first shot was fired, then another andanother, all of them trial shots, as one of the soldiers explained. Thenanother battery to the left, heretofore unnoticed, began to fire, whileone posted higher up on the right, and two more beyond, chimed in. Thiswas a new experience to the boys, as the Belgians, with whom they hadformerly associated, were lacking in field pieces compared with thosethey now saw and heard.
The challenge was promptly accepted by the Germans, and within fifteenminutes the whole crest to the east of them, probably two miles distant,seemed to be ablaze. It was singular, however, that none of the missilesfell near the troops where the boys were located. On a little elevationto the right of the kitchen vans the boys noticed a group of officerswith field glasses, intently scanning the rear of their position.
"The blooming blokes are shooting too far," remarked a soldier.
"Why are they doing that?" asked Alfred, who overheard him.
"Oh, they'll get the range in time," he replied.
"There's the first airship, to give them a pointer," said the corporal,as an airplane appeared in sight.
"Two of our machines are coming up," shouted Ralph. "Now there'll be afight."
Ralph was right. The two English machines steered straight for theoncoming Fokker, the latter veering to the left in time to prevent tooclose a meeting. Within a minute three more German machines came intosight, their appearance being answered by four of their own machines,which came up from the rear, and sailed straight across above them tothe German positions on the crest of the hill. They were much higherthan the German machines, the reason being that the enemy had a numberof anti-airship guns to meet any flyers who dared to cross the line at alow altitude.
It was, indeed, an interesting sight to observe the numerous airplanes,which were employed by the two forces. They seemed to be flying back andforth in the utmost confusion, and, frequently, puffs of smoke wouldindicate that they were firing at each other.
The corporal with whom the boys talked seemed to be unusually wellinformed, and quite a number of the soldiers addressed him forinformation.
"How do they recognize an enemy?" asked Ralph.
"Oh, that's an easy matter," he replied. "I suppose the flyers in theair do it on the same principle that we are in the habit of recognizingautomobiles. Why, I have a lad not ten years old who can tell the makeof almost any auto the moment he sees it. Generally, if the make of theplane is similar to those attached to the aviator's side he is able torecognize it by the special mark it carries."
"What mark do you mean?" asked Alfred.
"Why, the English and the French mark is in the form of a circle,generally three, each circle being of a different color," was theanswer.
"There is one,--why, it's red, white and blue," said Ralph.
"That's correct,--those are the colors of the Allies."
"What are the German colors?" asked Ralph.
_Allies' Distinguishing Mark_]
"Black and white," said the corporal.
"Oh, yes, they have a cross," said Alfred.
"Yes; a cross in imitation of the iron cross, so far as its shape isconcerned," he answered; "that is, a black cross on a white field."
The company marched back to the line. During the next half hour therewas nothing but expectancy, waiting, waiting,--that most trying thingfor soldiers, who know that a battle is impending. Then a hundred feetto their rear there was a terrific explosion, which startled every one.This was followed by others, but none reached the trench line.
Thus, during the whole day, there was an exchange of artillery, thegreatest damage being done to those in the rear who were trying to getto the front.
"With the long range guns the great danger isn't always with the fellowsin front," said the corporal.
_Black Cross on German Flyers_]
At four that afternoon the company was startled by an order to leave thetrenches and fall to the rear. Every one cast questioning glances, butthe knapsacks and rolls were quickly seized, and within ten minutes theywere in line with the regiments to the right and the left. There was nohurrying or disorder.
"I wonder why we are going back?" asked Ralph.
"I suppose it's our business to retreat," returned the corporal.
They marched fully a mile to the rear, passing on the way at least halfa dozen lines of trenches, which had been thrown up since the boyscovered the ground the night before. Every trench line was filled withsoldiers, those in the front being the first to retire. On the way theysaw how the great shells had played havoc with many of the works.
They again crossed the river, and at six o'clock that night a new linewas formed, and the spades and picks were again brought into use. Thebooming of cannon was incessant, and, although they tried to get somesleep after midnight, they were frequently aroused by the marching oftroops. At daylight they were again marched out of the trenches, and aquarter of a mile from the last trench halted to partake of breakfast.
The march was directly south, and at noon they reached a town of someimportance, called Chauny. They went through without halting, crossedthe river Oise, and at four o'clock halted on the eastern banks of astream, which flowed northwardly. Here they waited for orders. Apicturesque bridge spanned the stream, and the boys wandered across.West of the river was a broad expanse of country, perfectly level, andthousands of people from the nearby villages lined the road, allcrossing to the west.
All were excited, and seemed to be going toward the narrow road, whichled to the left, and, naturally, the boys followed the movement of thecrowd. Their curiosity was soon satisfied, for beyond was a sight whichcaused their hearts to beat with joy. Fully a dozen airplanes were drawnup in line, and the boys started forward on a run that seemed to instillthe same activity in many others present.
"There's a Morane," said Ralph.
"Yes; and that's Tom getting out of the machine," shouted Alfred, asthey rushed up and greeted Tom, who looked at them in astonishment.
"And how did you get here?" he inquired.
"Came over with the troops," explained Alfred.
"With what troops?" he was asked.
"Don't know," answered Ralph, "but they are from Essex."
"Well, we've been on duty for a day directly over the lines east of St.Quentin," said Tom.
"Did you have a fight?" asked Alfred.
"I should say we did," answered Tom. "Brought down two, at any rate, andit was pretty hot for about an hour. So you are on your way to Paris;sorry you didn't get back before we started," he added.
"We got to the grounds several hours after you left," said Alfred.
"Glad you came; we can put you up, if you are willing," remarked Tom.
"Thank you for the invitation; we helped them on the trenches and havedone considerable marching, so it's better than going back to camp,"said Ralph.
The boys were up early in the morning, but didn't have the least ideawhat steps to take to continue their journey. Everything in the way oftransportation was reserved for the troops. Thousands of people wereleaving their homes, and people with household effects, mou
nted on allsorts of conveyances, were noted on all sides, although at this time theGermans were not within ten miles of the river. The nearest railway tothe south, which ran east and west along the southern bank of the riverAisne, was fully ten miles distant from this point.
Tom was on hand early, and greeted the boys most affectionately.
"I have been thinking I might be able to help you out a bit," he said,after a little talk. "We are ordered to the station nearVillers-Cotterets, and that's only forty miles from Paris."
"How can you help us?" inquired Ralph excitedly.
"Probably I can give you a lift in the machine," he said.
"How far is that from here?" asked Alfred.
"Twenty miles," replied Tom, and the two boys looked at each otherhopefully, as he left them.
Tom re-appeared at three o'clock, and informed them that they wouldstart in fifteen minutes.
"If you are ready for the trip, jump in and make yourselvescomfortable," he said, and they required no second invitation.
The dainty Morane just suited them, and they were in their seats in aninstant. Tom then tossed them a light package, which they tucked away,and the engine began to buzz. As they glanced around, two more machinesseemed to vie with them in taking the air, then, as they again lookedaround, four more machines began to move, and soon all were on the wing,flying side by side, excepting two large Farman machines, which werewell in the lead.
Up, up, up, they went, the machines on line with each other maintaininga height of about four thousand feet, while the Farmans were about fivehundred feet higher. Within a half hour they saw in the distance whatappeared to be a silver ribbon running east and west, which proved to bethe river Aisne, and to the east they saw the city of Soissons. Thebeautiful aviation ground was reached within an hour, and they alightedin front of a magnificent group of hangars in the center of well-tilledfields, so located as to afford a view in all directions from thegrounds. The machine was then put up for the night, and Tom and the boyswere glad to turn in for a much-needed rest.
It was now the first day of September, and there had been nearly onemonth of war. The immense German forces had hewn their way throughBelgium and entered France, reaching the cities of Laon, Epernay, andChalons-sur-Marnek, thus forming a huge circle. They were withinforty-five miles of Paris.
When the boys awoke the next morning the first words that greeted themwere: "The Germans are within five miles of Soissons."
They rushed over to the hangar, but the machine and Tom were not to befound. This was another source of grief to them, and they stared about,and wondered at this new turn of affairs until, meeting an attendant,Ralph inquired:
"Do you know where the Morane has gone?"
"They all started on a reconnoitering trip at five this morning," wasthe reply.
"Do you think they will come back here?" asked Alfred.
"That is doubtful," answered the man.
"Then we shall have to make our way to Paris as best we can," saidRalph. "Do you think we would have any chances on the railroad?"
"It's doubtful. I should take my chances over the highway directlysouth, if I wanted to make Paris," answered the man. Then, after alittle reflection, he added: "A large English force is expected to behere from Laon, and it may arrive before noon. Possibly the flyers willreturn, but if the German forces are too close, they will go on to thenext station at Crepy, directly south of this place."
"Then that's the place for us," proposed Alfred, as he thanked theirinformant.
They had no trouble in getting breakfast and after waiting for an hour,during which all sorts of rumors were floating about, they concludedthat their only course would be to commence the trip. It was notnecessary for them to inquire the way, as the highway, in the distancewas filled with fugitives, all trying to get to Paris, or, at least, toavoid the invaders while there was yet time.
Reaching the highway, they moved along with the procession, and, shortlybefore twelve o'clock, reached Crepy, ten miles from Soissons. They werenow twenty-five miles from the center of Paris, and after getting a goodmeal they again took up the march over a beautiful road, which ransoutheast.