The destruction of the viaduct by the submarine C-3 had been designed to aid the efforts of the landing party by preventing reinforcements reaching the Mole from the shore.  Owing to the Vindictive coming alongside to landward of this zone, Commander Adams’ men were now faced with a double duty of preventing an enemy attack from the shore and of themselves attacking a second fortified zone ahead of them.  The casualties already sustained were so great that the Iris could not remain alongside the Vindictive to land her company of Royal Marines.  This left insufficient men in the early stages of the landing to carry out both operations.

The situation was a difficult one, for to attack the fortified zone first might enable the enemy to advance up the Mole and seize positions abreast of the Vindictive, with the most serious consequences to the whole landing force, whereas, by not attacking the fortified positions, the guns at the Mole head could not be prevented from firing at the block ships.

Therefore, Commander Adams instructed Frank to secure the landward side, at the same time instructing Commander Hastings to attack the fortified zone.  Commander Adams knew that he was taking a long chance by thus dividing his forces, but in no other manner, it seemed to him, could the success of the expedition be assured.

Frank led his men forward promptly.  Apparently the Germans had not realized the full strength of the British attack on the Mole, for no effort had been made to get reinforcements to the men there from shore.  Consequently, Frank’s work was not so hard as that set for Commander Hastings.

The few Germans who were guarding the landward side of the Mole fired one volley at Frank’s party, then turned and took to their heels.

“By George!  Pretty soft!” said Frank.

He led his men to the positions recently vacated by the enemy, and then sat down to await further instructions from Commander Adams.

Commander Hastings, on the other hand, had hard work in taking the fortified positions from the foe.  Nevertheless he succeeded, due to the heroic efforts of his men.  Commander Adams surveyed the field carefully.

“Well,” he told himself, “I guess we’ve done the best we can.  We’ll stick here till we get the signal to withdraw.”

CHAPTER X

THE RAID SUCCESSFUL

The platoon which was commanded by Commander Adams was officially designated as No. 1; that commanded by Frank as No. 2 and that commanded by Commander Hastings as No. 3.