The Boy Allies in the Trenches | Page 5

regions.
Word from the eastern theater of war brought the news that Russia had
a new big army advancing upon the Germans in Poland from the east,
threatening to outflank the army that had penetrated to within fifty
miles of Warsaw, the capital and chief city of Poland. This, it was taken,

would mean that Germany would either have to retreat within her own
borders into East Prussia, or else that troops would have to be
dispatched from the west to reënforce those in the east.
In this event there was little doubt that General French and General
Joffre would immediately order another allied advance along the entire
front.
News of the utter annihilation of three Turkish army corps in the
Caucasus by the Russians also cheered the British, French and Belgian
troops, as did news that the Russians had cleared the way for their
long-deferred invasion of Hungary, and, ultimately, of Austria.
So far, from the Allies' point of view, the one big disappointment of the
war had been the inaction of the British and French fleets. True, several
engagements of minor importance had been fought, chief of which was
the sinking of a German fleet of five ships by a British squadron in the
waters of the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Argentina.
But the fact that the German fleet, although blockaded, after five
months of the war had not been destroyed, was causing considerable
adverse criticism in England and France. Several German sea raids--by
cruisers and submarines which had successfully run the blockade--had
caused condemnation of Great Britain's naval policy.
In spite of the fact that only in one instance had such a raid resulted in
any serious damage, the British Admiralty had been roundly censured.
Germany's policy of "whittling down" the British fleet, so that the
Germans could give battle on even terms, while by no means successful
thus far, had nevertheless considerably reduced the size of the English
navy. Some of her first-class cruisers, and one formidable dreadnought
had been sunk.
The French fleet in the Adriatic and in the Mediterranean had been
equally as inactive, although a squadron of British and French ships
even now was attempting to destroy the Turkish fortifications along the
Dardanelles, that a passage of the straits might be forced. So far this,
too, had been unsuccessful.

The fighting in France and Belgium, Alsace and Lorraine had now
become a series of battles for the possession of the various trenches that
had been dug. True, long-range artillery duels raged almost incessantly,
but the mass of both armies lay in the trenches, now attacking and
capturing the enemy's trenches, now being attacked and being driven
out again.
Besides the artillery duels there were, of course, occasional skirmishes
between the cavalry, some growing to the proportions of real battles.
But the results of these had never been decisive. The mighty armies
were gripped in a deadlock, and indications pointed to this deadlock
being maintained until spring, when, with the disappearance of fierce
snowstorms and the breaking up of the terrific cold, a decisive battle
might be fought.
This was the situation up to date, when Hal and Chester, with the troop
of cavalry, set out on a reconnaissance of the enemy's position on the
first day of January, 1915.

CHAPTER III.
A SKIRMISH.
Surprised at the sudden fusillade, Hal and Chester drew taut the reins
with their left hands, pulling their horses back on their haunches, while
with their right hands they drew their revolvers. Behind them the troop
came to an abrupt stop.
From the protection of the sand dunes then came a second volley, more
deadly than the first, and four more British cavalrymen hit the ground.
Hal and Chester were inactive no longer.
"Forward!" cried Hal, and, setting spurs to his horse, he dashed forward,
closely followed by Chester and his men.
As the British charged, the small body of Germans--only slightly larger

than the British force--broke from their places of concealment and fled.
The British rode rapidly after them with loud cries.
Before the enemy could scatter sufficiently to make good their escape,
the British horsemen were upon them. Some turned to fight, and were
shot down with revolver bullets, while others, who ran, were cut down
by the heavy cavalry swords of the English.
To the right a score of Germans, in a body, turned to fight it out.
Toward these dashed Hal and Chester, followed by twenty men. Hal, as
he rode, emptied his automatic at this little body of the enemy and
Chester did likewise. Then, their weapons empty, they were upon them
with drawn swords.
A German revolver bullet struck Hal's horse and the animal fell; but by
a quick leap Hal avoided being pinned under it, and hurled himself
upon the enemy afoot. Quickly