Omaha daily bee., 1918-11-30
CHAPTER vi.
The Phantom Army Fights.

n EGGY rushed back to the shell
hole, where Billy Belgium,
- with the captured machine gun,
held the German soldiers prisoners,
She had remembered seeing boxes of
hand grenades among the German
supplies. Now she dug down into
these grenades, taking all she could
carry.
what are you going to do?"
asked Billy Belgium.
"We're going to clear the way for
the American army" replied Peggy.
The Germans were astonished
when they saw the grenadees moving
about, apparently by themselves.
Some of those who had got tired of
holding their hands in the air now
shot them higher than ever, and kept
up a murmur of "Kamerad! KAN
eradw
Peggy told her plan tc Billy. 1t
was to march tie German prisoners
to level place below the shell hole,
where they could be guarded by Ben
and Bill, while she and Billy brought
up all the grenades and ammunition
On the short marcfs Peggy guard
ed the prisoners with grenades,
while Billy, aided by prisoner, took
along the machine gun. After that
they brought up all the ammunition.
Now we can lick all these Ger
mans" declared Ben.
Lets give them a chance to sur
render first" suggested Peggy.
1--WE will have the sergeant tell them
they are attacked by a phantom
army and advise them to quit"
That's a good idea," Bill ad-
mitted reluctantly; "but l sure would
like to shake 'em up bit with these
grenades."
J well do that if they don't sur
render right away sasid Peggy.
1--WE are pretty good base ball
players and can throw these gre
nades into all the nests, except
those up on the other side of the ra-
vine," said Ben.
"I'll clean out those nests" volun-
teered Billy Belgium. They can't
see me-"
This arrangement was agreed
upon. Billy told the sergeant just
what he was to shout to his fellow
soldiers in the other nests, and Ben,
who understood German, said he
would see that the instructions were
carried out.
Then Billy made his way with a ,
bunch of grenades to a point where
he could look down into the ma
chine gun nests on the farther side
of the ravine. Homer Pigeon went
with him to act as his runner"
Soon Homer came flying back with
word that Billy was ready.
, The German sergeant now walked
out to high rock where he could
look down on his comrades beneath.
He carried a piece of white cloth,
which he waved vigorously.
"We have been captured by a !
phantom American army" he shout
ed. This army is all about US. 1t
threatens to blow you all up if you
don't surrender Immediately"
The German soldiers in the other
shell holes looked up in wonder.
Then they began to laugh loudly. |
"Are you crazy?" they shouted
back in German. "If the Americans
come we will make them all phan-
TOMS"
"Tell them again to surrender"
cried Ben. The sergeant hesitated.
Peggy, who was behind him, gun in
hand, gave him little jab with the
bayonet.
"Kamerad! Kamerad!" he shrieked.
Surrender quick"
D The soldiers below laughed again.
Jump back here, Princess Peggy"
shouted Bill, and as Peggy obeyed,
he threw a grenade with all his
strength. 1t landed among a crowd
of jeering soldiers in she'll hole be-
low There was burst of smoke,
and the Germans vanished. Then fol-
lowed regular bombardment, Ben
and Bill throwing grenades as fast as
they could. Bursts from across the
ravine showed that Billy Belgium
also was busy,
This bombardment took the Ger
mans utterly by surprise. Those
left alive were terror-s stricken. White
flags shot up everywhere, followed
by soldiers holding up their hands
and shouting "Kamerad" In a re-
short time every German
in the ravine was rounded up. In re-
spouse to orders from the sergeant,