line, stretching out for more than 200 miles, was in
constant contact with the enemy. Almost hourly there was such severe
fighting as in former wars would have earned the designation of
battles. But along this great line they were but skirmishes.

The losses on both sides had been tremendous, although the Germans,
because of the fact that they had been previously on the offensive,
and also because of the massed formation they had used in their
advance, had suffered considerably more than the Allies.

Louvain and other towns in Belgium had been sacked by the Germans,
pillaged with fire and sword, until hardly one stone was left upon
another. And now the fighting was again in Belgium, that little buffer
state which, ever since she became a nation, has always been the
battleground of European wars.

The Belgian army, in spite of the terrible havoc wrought upon it by
the heavy German guns, was still fighting desperately and had no mind
to withdraw from the conflict. Possibly Belgium had more at stake than
any other country in the war. She was fighting for life and
freedom--from possible absorption into the German Empire.

And now the German forces had been pushed clear across the River
Marne, where they were making a determined stand. The eastern shore of
the little river was held by the Kaiser's troops, the western shore by
the Allies.

So here the great armies now paused for a moment to take a much needed
breathing spell. For the moment the fierce advance of the Allies was
checked. Tired men sank to the ground in the ranks, there to remain
until the battle should be resumed.

But over all still was heard the roar of the great guns. The artillery
continued in action, as it had ever since the two great armies had
come into contact with each other. Shells dropped and burst among the
troops on both sides of the river, blowing men to atoms; but still the
main portions of the armies rested on their arms, awaiting the word to
move forward again.

The fire of the German artillery was hourly creating great havoc in
the allied army; but in spite of their great guns, the greatest ever
known, their execution had been no more terrible than that done by the
smaller guns of the Allies; for the fire of the British gunners was
far superior to that of the Germans. Few shells were wasted, while, up
to this time, the comparatively poor marksmanship of the German
gunners was the cause of much comment and surprise.

So now, when Hal