Part 29 (2/2)
He's a born fighter himself and he knows fighters when he sees them.”
”Well, you boys keep right on your toes,” said Stone, as he prepared to leave them, ”and I'll bet a dollar to a doughnut that within three days you'll see the Heinies on the run.”
Two days pa.s.sed and nothing special happened. Then at dawn on the third day, Foch struck like a thunderbolt!
He had gathered his forces. He had chosen the place. He had bided his time.
The German forces were taken utterly by surprise. Their General Staff was caught napping. They had underestimated their enemy's daring and resources. Their flank was exposed, and it crumpled up under the terrific and unexpected blow.
Thousands of prisoners and hundreds of guns were taken on the first day, and the success was continued for many days thereafter. The Allies were elated and the Germans correspondingly depressed. Their boasted drive had been held back, and now they themselves were the pursued, with the Allies, flushed with victory, close upon their heels.
The Army Boys were in their element, and they fought with a dash and spirit that they had never surpa.s.sed. Other volumes of this series will tell of the thrilling exploits, with the tanks and otherwise, by which they upheld the honor and glory of the Stars and Stripes.
”Well,” said Frank one evening, after a day crowded with splendid fighting, ”we've put a dent in the Kaiser's helmet.”
”Yes,” grinned Bart, as he wiped his glowing face. ”Considering that we're green troops that were going to run like sheep before the Prussian Guards, we haven't done so badly.”
”I guess the folks at home aren't kicking,” remarked Tom. ”They told us to come over here and clean up, and so far we've been obeying orders.”
”We've held back the German drive,” put in Billy, ”but that's just the beginning. Now we've got to tackle another job. We've got to drive the Hun out of France----”
”And out of Belgium,” added Tom.
”And back to the Rhine,” chimed in Bart.
”Get it right, you b.o.o.bs,” laughed Frank. ”Straight back to Berlin!”
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