2:47. "Boston talking--enemy sent up one red, one green rocket and then three green rockets from B-14," the Adjutant repeats.
"Where is that report from?" asks the Colonel.
"The operator at Jamestown, sir," replies the Adjutant.
"Be ready for some gas, gentlemen," says the Colonel. "I think that"s Fritzie"s order for the stink. Orderly, put down gas covers on the doors and windows."
I watched the man unroll the chemically dampened blankets over the doors and windows.
2:49. "Boston talking--23 calls for barrage."
The Colonel and Major turn immediately to the wall map, placing a finger on 23 position.
"Hum," says the Colonel. "Counter attack, hey? Well, the barrage will take care of them, but get me Watson on the line."
"Connect me with Nantucket," the Adjutant asks the operator. "h.e.l.lo, Watson, just a minute," turning to Colonel, "here"s Watson, sir."
"h.e.l.lo, Watson," the Colonel says, taking the receiver. "This is Yellow Jacket. Watch out for counter attack against 23. Place your men in readiness and be prepared to support Michel on your right. That"s all,"
returning "phone to the Adjutant, "Get me Mr. Lake."
While the Adjutant made the connection, the Colonel explained quickly the planned flanking movement on the map. "If they come over there," he said to the French Major, "not a G.o.d-d.a.m.n one of them will ever get back alive."
The French Major made a note in his report book.
"h.e.l.lo, Lake," the Colonel says, taking the "phone. "This is Yellow Jacket. Keep your runners in close touch with Michel and Watson. Call me if anything happens. That"s all."
3:00. "Boston talking--G-2 reports all O.K. Still waiting for the message from Worth."
3:02. "Storming party reports unhindered progress. No enemy encountered yet."
This was the first message back from the raiders. It had been sent over the wire and the instruments they carried with them and then relayed to the Colonel"s command post.
"_Magnifique_," says the French Major.
3:04. "Boston talking. X-10 reports gas in Bois des Seicheprey."
3:05. "Boston talking. h.e.l.lo, yes, nothing coming in here to amount to anything. Just had a gas warning but none arrived yet."
3:07. "Boston talking,----Yes, all right" (turning to Colonel), "operator just received message from storming party "so far so good.""
"Not so bad for thirty-seven minutes after opening of the operation,"
remarks the Colonel.
"What is "so far so good"?" inquires the French Major, whose knowledge of English did not extend to idioms. Some one explained.
3:09. "Boston talking--Watson reports all quiet around 23 now."
"Guess that barrage changed their minds," remarks the Colonel.
With gas mask at alert, I walked out for a breath of fresh air. The atmosphere in a crowded dugout is stifling. From guns still roaring in the rear and from in front came the trampling sound of sh.e.l.ls arriving on German positions. The first hints of dawn were in the sky. I returned in time to note the hour and hear:
3:18. "Boston talking--O-P reports enemy dropping line of sh.e.l.ls from B-4 to B-8."
"Trying to get the boys coming back, hey?" remarks the Colonel. "A fat chance. They"re not coming back that way."
3:21. "Boston talking--23 reports that the barrage called for in their sector was because the enemy had advanced within two hundred yards of his first position. Evidently they wanted to start something, but the barrage nipped them and they fell back fast."
"Perfect," says the French Major.
3:25. "Boston talking--two green and two red rockets were sent up by the enemy from behind Richecourt."
"h.e.l.l with "em, now," the Colonel remarks.
3:28. "Boston talking--all O. K. in Z-2. Still waiting to hear from Michel."
"I rather wish they had developed their counter attack," says the Colonel. "I have a reserve that would certainly give them an awful wallop."
3:30. "Boston talking--more gas in Bois des Seicheprey."
3:33. "Boston talking--white stars reported from Richecourt."
"They must be on their way back by this time," says the Colonel, looking at his watch.
3:37. "Boston talking,--enemy now sh.e.l.ling on the north edge of the town. A little gas."
3:40. "Boston talking--X-1 reports some enemy long range retaliation on our right.
"They"d better come back the other way," says the Colonel.
"That was the intention, sir," the lieutenant reported from across the room.
3:42. "Boston talking--signalman with the party reports everything O.
K."
"We don"t know yet whether they have had any losses or got any prisoners," the Colonel remarks. "But the mechanism seems to have functioned just as well as it did in the last raid. We didn"t get a prisoner that time, but I sorter feel that the boys will bring back a couple with them to-night."
3:49. "Boston talking--G-9 reports some of the raiding party has returned and pa.s.sed that point."
"Came back pretty quick, don"t you think so, Major?" said the Colonel with some pride. "Must have returned over the top."
It is 3:55 when we hear fast footsteps on the stone stairs leading down to the dugout entrance. There is a sharp rap on the door followed by the Colonel"s command, "Come in."
A medium height private of stocky build, with shoulders heaving from laboured breathing and face wet with sweat, enters. He removes his helmet, revealing disordered blonde hair. He faces the Colonel and salutes.
"Sir, Sergeant Ransom reports with message from Liaison officer. All groups reached the objectives. No enemy encountered on the right, but a party on the left is believed to be returning with prisoners. We blew up their dugouts and left their front line in flames."
"Good work, boy," says the Colonel, rising and shaking the runner"s hand. "You got here d.a.m.n quick. Did you come by the Lincoln trench?"
"No, sir, I came over the top from the battalion post. Would have been here quicker, but two of us had to carry back one boy to that point before I could get relieved."