“En avant!”

The troops began to move.

Overhead, screaming French shells from the big guns in the rear flew as they raced for the distant German lines.  This was no new sound.  For more than twenty-four hours now these big guns had been hurling shells into the German ranks; and the men had become so used to the sounds of their voices that they would have been almost unable to sleep had they become silent.

This bombardment, continuing for more than twenty-four hours as it had, was the opening of the greatest offensive by the French at Verdun—­an offensive by which General Petain, the French commander, hoped to drive back the foe that for months had pressed on so hard, and thus to insure the safety of Verdun, “The gateway to France,” against the German invader for all time to come.

Each move of this gigantic effort had been thought out well in advance.  All contingencies had been provided for and against.  The blow was to be struck at the psychological moment, when it would be deemed by the French general staff that it was sure of success.

And now this moment had come.

The information placed in the hands of General Petain days before by Hal and Chester had been the one link in the chain that had been missing.  Now the general staff felt sure of the success of this great effort, though there was not a man who had taken part in the preparations who did not know that the victory—­if victory there should be—­would be won at tremendous cost.

But, with the fate of Verdun in the balance, it had been the opinion of each member of the general staff that now was no time to hesitate.

So, upon this morning in June, just before dawn, the French advanced all along their entire front.

Under the protection of their big guns they would be able to progress for some time; and as they attacked the German first line trenches in a charge, the fire of the big guns would continue, firing overhead at the German second and third line trenches beyond.

And it was in this manner that the advance was made.

The day dawned while the French were still some distance from the German first line trenches; and the German guns, far to the east, and the German defenders in the trenches opened on them with a vengeance.  But the French were prepared for this.  There had been no thought of a surprise attack in the plans of the general staff.  It was known that the Germans would realize what was about to happen when the duel of big guns began more than twenty-four hours before.

Before sun-up the French infantry sprang forward in its first charge.  It was thrown back.  Immediately a second charge was ordered.  This met the same fate as had the first.  A third brought no better results.

On the next charge, as the French advanced the Germans left their trenches and sprang forward to meet them.  The big German guns became still as the infantry struggled hand to hand.