Boy Allies with Haig in Flanders; Or, the Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge

  CHAPTER XIV

  A GLANCE AT THE WAR SITUATION

  The apparent deadlock on the western front from the North Sea, throughthat narrow strip that remained of Belgium, Flanders and France almostto the borders of Alsace-Lorraine, had been maintained for so long nowthat the world was momentarily expecting word that would indicate theopening of what, it was expected, would be the greatest battle of thewar since Verdun.

  It was known that Germany, confident because of the disruption of theRussian armies, had drawn heavily upon her forces on the easternfront. The world waited for some announcement of where the Kaiserwould strike next.

  The blow was delivered in Italy. Field Marshal von Hindenburg, thegreatest military genius the war had yet produced, left his command onthe west front and hurried into Italy, succeeding General vonMackensen, who had been in command originally.

  The Italian troops fought hard to maintain the ground they had won fromthe Austrians the spring and summer before; but in two days theAustrians, reinforced by German troops, and commanded by, Germanofficers, had won back all they lost in two years of war and penetratedto the heart of Italy itself.

  The world stood aghast at the mighty Teutonic offensive, before whichthe Italian troops, seasoned veterans that they were, were like chaffbefore the wind.

  The Allies became alarmed.

  Von Hindenburg's blow in Italy, if successful threatened to dispose ofone country entirely, and would endanger the French and British troopsfrom the rear. It was decided to reinforce the Italians with Frenchand British troops.

  At the same time, it became a part of the plan of the general staff tostrike hard in Flanders and in the Cambrai sector, while the Germanswere busily engaged elsewhere. It would, indeed, be an auspiciousmoment to strike.

  Since the days when the Germans had been beaten back by the French atV