COMMANDS ARE WHISPERED

“I belonged to what may be called the left leg of the V. After what seemed to be about half an hour, we reached the edge of the forest, and from behind the trees we saw an almost flat country before us, with here and there a tiny little hill, a mere hump four or five feet high.  On the extreme left-hand side the land seemed to be intersected by ditches and trenches.

“Another whispered command was passed from man to man, and we all had to lie down on the soil.  A moment afterward we were thus making our way to the above-mentioned ditches and trenches.  It is neither the easiest nor the quickest way to move, but undoubtedly the safest, for an occasional enemy somewhere on the hills at the farther end of the field would not possibly be able to detect us.  I don’t know how long it took us to reach the ditches, which were, for the greater part, dry; nor do I know how long we remained there or what was happening.  We were perfectly hidden from view, lying flat down on our stomachs, but we were also unable to see anything.  Everybody’s ears were attentive, every nerve was strained.  The sun was rising.  It promised to be a hot day.

FIRST SHOT IS HEARD

“Suddenly we heard a shot, at a distance of what seemed to be a mile or so, followed by several other shots.  I ventured to lift my body up in order to see what was happening.  But the next moment my sergeant, who was close by me, warned me with a knock on my shoulder not to move, and the whispered order ran, ‘Keep quiet!  Hide yourself!’ Still, the short glance had been sufficient to see what was going on.  Our troops, probably those who had been left behind in the forest, were crossing the plain and shooting at the Germans on the crest of the hill, who returned the fire.

“The silence was gone.  We heard the rushing of feet at a short distance; then, suddenly, it ceased when the attacking soldiers dropped to aim and shoot.  Some firing was heard, and then again a swift rush followed.  This seemed to last a long time, but it was broken by distant cries, coming apparently from the enemy.  I was wondering all the time why we kept hidden and did not share in the assault.

“The rifle fire was incessant.  I saw nothing of the battle.  Would, our troops be able to repulse the Germans?  How strong were the enemy!  They seemed to have no guns, but the number of our soldiers in that field was not very large.

ATTACKED WITH BAYONETS

“A piercing yell rose from the enemy.  Was it a cry of triumph?  A short command rang over the field in French, an order to retreat.  A swift rush followed; our troops were being pursued by the enemy.  What on earth were we waiting for in our ditches?  A bugle signal, clear and bright.  We sprang to our feet, and ‘At the bayonet!’ the order came.  We threw ourselves on the enemy, who were at the same time attacked on the other side by the division which formed the other ‘leg’ of the V, while the ‘fleeing’ French soldiers turned and made a savage attack.