The Boy Allies with Pershing in France; Or Over the Top at Chateau Thierry Read online

  CHAPTER IV

  THE "DEVIL DOGS"

  "So you are a couple of 'Devil Dogs,' eh?"

  The speaker was Chester. It was morning again and Hal had justintroduced his chum to his newly found friends.

  Lieutenant Jenkins smiled.

  "I wouldn't say that," was his reply. "Smith and I haven't earned theright yet to be called that. But we are marine officers, if that's whatyou mean."

  "That's just what I mean," said Chester. "To tell you the truth, I neverhave found out just where the marines won that name, but I know itwasn't bestowed without reason."

  "The name is the result of the first encounter between American marinesand Germans in the Soissons region," returned Lieutenant Jenkins. "Idon't know the details of that scrap, but from all accounts it must havebeen a warm one. There were only a few of our fellows in thatengagement--only the fraction of a division. They were flanked right andleft by French and British.

  "The enemy came on recklessly in the face of a heavy artillery fire.Under a rain of shells from the German lines, the right and leftwings--the French and British--gave ground slightly. But the marinesheld, and more. In the face of what seemed utter annihilation, ourfellows suddenly dashed forward. To the enemy it must have appeared thewildest folly. Perhaps it was. But it saved the day.

  "So great was the enemy's astonishment that for a moment his fireslackened. In that moment our fellows were upon the Germans with thebayonet. The enemy broke and fled, the marines in hot pursuit. At thisjuncture the wings rallied and came to our support. The Germans weredriven back to their own trenches with heavy losses."

  "But the name," said Chester; "who was responsible for the name, the'Devil Dogs'?"

  "Oh, the name," repeated Jenkins. "I believe the Germans themselves wereresponsible for that. After the battle, as I understand it, the Germansoldiers told one another that we were 'devils' and 'dogs.' I guesssomeone joined the words."

  "At all events," laughed Hal, "you fellows have some reputation to liveup to."

  "And we'll live up to it, never fear," declared Jenkins.

  "I hope so," interposed Lieutenant Smith. "It has often been said thatthe morale of the American marines is the best in the world, and it issaid with reason. Gathered as they are from all parts of the country,and chiefly from the rougher element, it is only natural that theyshould be fighters par excellence. The slogan that you have seen onthousands of billboards, 'The first to fight,' has had its appeal. Tothe true marine a fight is the salt of life."

  "So I have always understood," said Chester. "I know that in times ofpeace the marine was considered a bad customer. Now that he has comeinto his own he is bound to give a good account of himself."

  "He has always done that, no matter in what part of the world he hasbeen called into action," said Hal. "Take the troubles in Nicaragua, SanDomingo, and even at Vera Cruz, when it seemed that we must wage warupon that country. The marines were always first on the job, and fromall accounts they cleaned things up wonderfully well."

  "Well," said Chester, "we have talked to you fellows too long now. We'vework to do, and I suppose you have also. It's time, Hal, that wereported to Captain O'Neil. He may have something in sight for us. We'llsee you fellows again soon, I hope."

  "Thanks," replied Lieutenant Smith. "I am sure we hope so, too."

  The four shook hands all around and Hal and Chester a few moments later,learned to what extent the German general staff appeared willing to goin their efforts to drive a wedge between the French and British linesand then execute a flanking movement upon the French capital itself.

  "We've our work cut out for us the next few days, and possibly weeks,"the American captain told the two lads. "Just listen to the roar ofthose guns. You boys have been in this war almost four years, but I'llventure to say you have never heard the like before."

  It was true. Never, so far as Hal and Chester could remember, had thefire of the heavy German batteries been so terrific. The very earthquivered under their feet from the shock. While the Allied artillery wasreturning the German fire, the guns had not been concentrated upon thefoe's positions; but the activity of the French, British and Americanartillery was soon to equal that of the enemy and the two, combined,were speedily engaged in what was to prove the greatest artillery actionin history.

  All day long and into the night the great guns pounded on withoutcessation. Hastily, under the personal direction of divisionalcommanders, American, British and French troops strengthened theirpositions that they might be better able to repel the foe when theinfantry advanced to the attack under cover of the heavy German barrage.

  All day long and far into the night Hal and Chester rushed hither andthither within the lines with orders. Now, an hour after midnight, theyfound themselves for the first time with nothing to do.

  "Whew!" said Hal, as he sat down on the edge of the dugout to which theyhad been assigned. "This has been the busiest day I have put in inmonths."

  "Here, too," Chester agreed, "and I'll bet a hat that to-morrow and thedays to follow will be just as bad."

  "Wouldn't be surprised," declared Hal. "It's only a matter of hours nowuntil the Germans advance to the attack."

  "Well," said Chester, "we're prepared for them. They'll know they'vebeen in a battle before they break through here."

  "Right. The thing that I am trying to figure out is just about how manymen von Hindenburg is willing to sacrifice in what I believe will be thelast enemy offensive on a large scale."

  "It will cost him a terrible toll to come through here," declaredChester grimly.

  "Of course. But if he really means to break through, and the movement isnot a feint to cover an advance elsewhere, he won't worry about thesacrifice in human lives. He will attempt to break through, cost what itmay. If successful, he'll probably swing south toward Paris."

  "Well, he won't get there."

  "I don't think he will, either. But all those possibilities must betaken into consideration."

  "We don't have to worry about them," said Chester. "I guess Marshal Fochand his staff haven't overlooked any such possibilities. All we've gotto do is what we're told."

  "Right you are, Chester. Nevertheless, we're free to speculate if wefeel so disposed."

  As Hal had predicted, the German attack came soon. Under cover of thesemi-darkness of early morning, the gray-clad hosts advanced to theattack. For miles along the long battle line, Germans streamed fromtheir trenches and marched slowly toward the Allied positions only a fewhundred yards away.

  The enemy came on calmly and with no appearance of haste. Machine gunsfrom British, French and American positions poured a hail of bulletsinto the advancing ranks; but the gaps made by this fire wereimmediately filled and the Germans still moved forward, firing withmonotonous regularity as they did so.

  Now they reached the first-line American trenches and poured in.Desperately the Yankee troops fought to drive them out. But, outnumberedas they were by the enemy, they eventually were forced to retire. Thisretirement was ordered primarily so that the Americans might be kept incontact with the French, to the north, who were forced to give groundunder the impetuous advance of the foe.

  All day the battle raged, first at close quarters, and when the Alliesretired farther, the big German guns resumed the bombardment. Atnightfall of the second day it became clear to every man in the battlethat the German objective, primarily at least, was Ypres, one of themost important towns at the front still in possession of the Allies.

  Still the Allies gave ground as the enemy advanced. So, at the close ofthe fourth day of fighting, the Germans had gained miles of territoryand seemed in imminent danger of encircling the city of Ypres.

  But the German advance had been made at terrible cost. Thousands uponthousands of German dead strewed the field. In these few days offighting the German losses had been greater than in any battle of thewar. The losses of the Allies were comparatively light.

  And still Marsha
l Foch withdrew his troops slowly.

  It now became apparent that the commander-in-chief of the Allied forceswas ready to sacrifice ground if he could conserve lives. Each day theenemy advanced in the face of the terrible Allied fire his manpower grewweaker. If these tactics were continued, it was plain to the Alliedgeneral staff that the enemy must slow down if for no other reason thansheer exhaustion; at least he must slow down until his divisions couldbe reorganized and return to the fray.

  Each day territory won by the Germans grew less; and then the Britishline before Ypres held. It became apparent that Marshal Foch had yieldedas much ground in that section as he intended to give up. Immediatelyvon Hindenburg changed his tactics and struck farther south, apparentlyhoping to catch the French there by surprise. But after an initialadvance of a few miles the first day, the French line also braced andchecked the foe.

  Again the German commander hurled his tired troops against the Britishat Ypres, but this time he failed even to dent the line. Gradually thefighting grew less and less and soon the opposing armies settled downquietly and only the voices of the big guns, with occasional infantryraids, indicated that the war was still in progress on the West front.

  The German gains in territory in this battle had been large, but so hadtheir losses. Marshal Foch had conserved his own man-power with a geniusmore than rivaling that of von Hindenburg's strategy, so it appearedthat the advantage was with the Allies.

  Thus the second attempt of the German emperor to carry the war to thegates of Paris had failed. A feeling of absolute confidence ran throughthe Allied army. The Germans had showed the best they had and it was notgood enough to win through. Americans, British and French now eagerlyawaited the word that would open an offensive by the Allies.