Gilpin observer., 1917-11-29

sistants and nurses overworked. And
the day was still young.
Donald Parr attempted to comfort
her with the assurance that their po-
sitions were SO strong they could hold
out another "a hours, If required
by which time help must surely
have come to them from the regular
army and the National Guard which
had been mobillzed for border duty.
Against this argument there re-
mained the unquestionable fact that
repeated kilograms evoked no re-
sponse from any quarter.
And re-enforcements at any time
would arrive too late to prevent hide
Gus mortality in the ranks of the de-
tenders.
Toward mid-morning a second series
Of most violent assaults was launched
against the mainline trenches, and
though each in turn was thrown back
severely punished, each took its toll of
American lives and by so much lessen
ed the ability to present impregnable
resistance.
But by noon Huroki seems to
have made up his mind that further ef-
forts to take the trenches by storm
were futile. There fell lull in the
fury Of the combat between the in
fantry forces, while flanking move
ment on the part of the Mexican cav
airy was met and confronted by q
cloud Of rough-riding plainsmen un-
80
bury.
Then again the artillery duel was
resumed; but there was in this some
thing strangely perfunctory, as far
at least as the work of the allied gum
ners were concerned. The suspicion
was warranted. and by subsequent
events was borne out, that Huroki was
sparring for time.
He was awaiting the arrival of heav-
Ter artillery; whatever those circum-
stances were which delayed its COM
Ing with effective range till dusk of
evening, they alone saved Patria's
forces from nnihilation-thoughm much
credit is due to the scouts of Patria's
flying corps for the willingness and skill
with which they engaged the Japanese
aviators and drove them from the
sky above the American positions, pre-
venting their locating the hidden bat
teries.
The last traces of light were dying
from the sky when Huroki's heaviest
metal came into action.
Simultaneously new and extraor-
dinarily vicious assaults were made
upon the trenches.
And still no word from Washing
ton or from any other quarter to
which appeals had been telegraphed
1t was not till midnight that a
scouting party dispatched by Donald
Parr brought in an explanation of this
ostensible indifference on the part Of
the authorities to the fate of Patria's
devoted little band.
Then 1t appeared that the wires had
been cut by Japanese spies, who had
received-and suppressed-all mes
sages dispatched by Patria's field head
quarters, in such manner as complete
ly to deceive her telegraph operators.
In short, 1t transpired that not one
of those many frantic cries for help
had been heard but by enemy ears.
Throughout night of hopeless hor-
ror the battle ragged. From the mo-
ment when Huroki's great guns en-
tered into the contest there was scarce
ly single perceptible break in the
succession of assaults upon the
trenches till dawn broke upon their
a n1 nlyc
And with the dawn came the final
effort, charge In force that taxed to
the utmost the courage, resource and
ingenuity of the Americans. That
it broke and was swept back can be
counted as nothing short of miracu-
lous.
AS it did so, Donald Parr fell, his
shoulder shattered by shrapnel.
When he recovered consciousness
in her arms, and she knew that his
hurt was not mortal. Patria took into
her own hands the command which
she had resigned to his. Comforting
by telephone in person with her staff,
she ordered the effort Of the last re-
sort. the forlorn hope which had been
day seemed lost and sacrifice Of self
alone might stem the tide of defeat.
All defensive tactics were abandoned.
The men were ordered from the
trenches, to advance, to charge and
keep on charging till the last man fell
To give them heart fleet of tanks
armored caterpillar tractors carrying
machine-gun crews-were loosed upon
the enemy.
Looming through the gray. formless
light of the newborn day like mon
strous armadilloes vomiting fire ant
death, they crossed their own trenches
and met and broke charge Of Japa
nese and Mexican infantry, scattering
It like chafr.
As the enemy turned and fled thes,