Fighting in France | Page 6

it was just nine o'clock. Every
knapsack was hoisted to its owner's back and guns in hand the men
began to file along the trench.
Thicker and ever faster the shells rained down. The French guns roared
continuously, doing their utmost to clear the way for the infantry which
was to sally forth so soon.
All at once a whistle sounded. The long line halted abruptly. A sharp

command followed and with a rattle the bayonets were fixed to the
rifles. Once again the whistle sounded; this time twice. Every man
made the final adjustment of his equipment and glanced at his
neighbor's to see if it too was in order.
"Good luck," said Jacques and he extended his right hand to Leon and
Earl in turn. They shook hands solemnly and the twin brothers standing
side by side gripped each other's hand without a word.
Leon looked along the line. Many of the men were grinning. Most of
them were white and their faces were drawn. The young American felt
queer; somehow he did not feel real. Everything about him seemed to
be taking place as in a dream. He could not realize it all.
"What are we waiting for?" he asked of Jacques and his voice sounded
faint and far away.
Before he could receive an answer a German shell suddenly burst close
at hand. A whisper ran along the line that a corporal and four men were
hit. Another shell burst close to the same spot. Evidently the Germans
had found the range.
"What are we waiting for?" Leon repeated anxiously. He glanced over
Earl's shoulder at his watch. It was exactly quarter past nine.
Two blasts on the whistle sounded. That was the signal. Every man
clenched his jaws and dashed at the trench wall in an effort to be the
first one to climb out. A moment later and all were out. The gaps in the
barbed wire that had been prepared now came into view and the men
wormed their way through.
Once past this and the line was formed again. Still together, Jacques,
Leon, and Earl took their places. The command was quickly given and
at double-quick the troops moved straight towards the German lines.
"Forward!" shouted the captain in a loud, clear voice that could be
heard even above the din of the cannonade. "Vive la France!"

With a shout the troops swept forward. From the German trenches
came the sharp rattle of the rapid-fire guns and the noise of the rifles.
Shells were bursting on every side. The air was full of dirt and dust
thrown up by the explosives. All along the line gaps in the advancing
line appeared, only to be closed up quickly and automatically.
The enemy's trenches were outlined by a long row of bursting shells.
From them arose a thick pall of smoke, obscuring the German positions.
At the bottom appeared red and green flames, but above all was
darkness. Out of the cloud came a ceaseless rain of metal, rifles, dirt,
cartridges, and even human flesh. The whole world seemed to have
been suddenly transformed into a roaring, flaming cauldron.
Leon gazed about him. Many of his comrades were down; he could
scarcely recognize Earl and Jacques, their faces were so blackened by
smoke and dirt. Holes appeared in the line on both sides of him. Not for
long, however; almost instantly the spaces filled up and the advance
was continued. He looked at the captain who was leading the charge.
Not one word of orders could be heard in that terrible uproar and the
officers had to make signs to their men.
Sometimes the captain lay down; his men immediately did the same. If
he pointed to the right the troops veered to the right. If he pointed to the
left they swung to the left. Blindly they followed on. Closer and closer
they came to the spot where their own shells were falling. It seemed as
if the leaders must be struck down by their own artillery.
Suddenly the curtain of fire lifted and moved forward to the next line of
trenches. The German trench that had been the object of the furious
bombardment appeared. In many cases it had been simply blown to
pieces and no trace of it could be discovered.
Leon, Earl, and Jacques had been appointed "trench-cleaners." That is,
they were among those who had been detailed to clear the enemy out of
all the captured trenches so that there would be no danger of the troops
being attacked from the rear.
Into the battered trench the three young soldiers sprang. With them

were a dozen more of their men. With bayonets affixed they made their
way along. The trench seemed to have numerous spurs and it branched
out in many directions.