Preparations for this attack were made quietly, and without knowledge of the enemy; so, when the attack came, the Germans were taken absolutely by surprise, and only escaped annihilation by the masterful direction of Field Marshal von Hindenburg, who hurried from the Italian front in time to stem the tide.
American troops in France at this time numbered not more than 125,000 men—these in addition to several detachments of engineers who had been sent in advance to take over French railroad operations in order to release the French for service on the fighting line. Many of the Americans who had fought with the Allies in the early days of the struggle, before Uncle Sam cast in his lot with them had returned to America and joined their own countrymen in the expectation that they would soon return to the front.
The American Army was being put in readiness as fast as possible, but it was known that months of intensive training would be necessary to fit it for its share of fighting at the front. Preparations were being rushed, however, to send the national guard units across. These would form the second contingent of Americans to reach France—the first having been composed only of regulars.
American troops in France so far had seen little actual fighting. Their activities had been confined mostly to beating off trench raids and launching an occasional bomb attack on the German dugouts so close to them. Several Americans had been killed in one of these attacks—forming the first United States casualty list. Others had been wounded, and some were missing, believed to be prisoners in the German lines.
Hal and Chester had been in the midst of the Canadian advance and capture of Vimy Ridge. Immediately after the battle they had left the fighting front and returned to America, where they spent several months training reserve officers at Fort Niagara. Because of excellent service there, they had been honored by being numbered among officers who went with the first expeditionary force under General Pershing.
Both lads had been among the American troops who beat off the German trench raid which accounted for the first United States casualties, and they had performed other services for General Pershing, as have already been recounted.
Americans though they were, each felt that he would rather be where action were swifter than lying idle in the trenches with their countrymen. It was hard telling how long it would be before the British and French general staffs would consider the American troops sufficiently seasoned to take over a complete sector of the battle line, and for that reason, the "Sammies," as they were affectionately called at home, were unlikely to see any real fighting for some time.
In fact, it developed that when General Haig finally launched his drive, only British, Irish, Welsh and Scots were used. The Americans had no hand in the fighting.
Hal and Chester, after reporting to General Pershing following their return from the German lines, returned to the automobile where they had left McKenzie and Stubbs.
"There are no orders for us," said Hal, "so we may as well hunt our quarters and get a little rest."