The Ely miner., 1941-03-20
CHAPTER VIII

Captain Franklin Boil, II COM
nand Of two outpost companies Of
n 1Ith United States Infantry IN
the vicinity Of Laredo, had patrols
along the Rio Grande watching for
the first Van Hassek wave. Word
had flashed through Of the bombing
Of San Antonio and Boil knew that
the land invasion must be shaping
itself already for vital blow at
Texas when daylight came.
Colonel Dem had spent fretful
night, well knowing the tight pinch
N which he might find his regiment
Al dawn. His regiment was at peace
strength, rife companies running as
low as seventy, total strength l.l32
officers and men. No artillery sup
port had been sent him from Fort
Sam Houston, his only supporting
weapons were the 37-miIlimeter and
small mortars Of his weapons COM
panies. His ammunition supply was
less than one day Of fire.
Such q thing as interdicting sus-
pected points Of enemy river cross
ing was out Of the question He had
given Boil, In outpost, eight machine
guns and some light mortars.
Lightning flashed In the distance.
A shril screech came blowing
through the night High explosives
crashed ID to turn night into bed
lam Fragments found victim who
fell with howl Of pain. The crew
Of machine gun was dropped Men
scattered, lay fat On their faces,
helpless against this hurricane Of
destruction that howled down upon
them across the Rio Grande.
Al existence was now engulfed
by the seething uproar of artillery.
Boil saw that the regiment was
claiming the fullest force Of Van
Hassek's rage.
Half an hour and BoI's casualties
were twenty. Patrols had been sight
ed, an increasing number of skulk-
ers were reported closing In. Boil
saw that his position was becoming
untenable.
He started his men slowly to the
rear, with two squads covering his
withdrawal. The enemy, suspicious
of . possible trap N the night, fol-
lowed cautiously. From this Boil
guessed that only the first scatter
ing bridgehead troops were In ac-
tion. But, having guessed that the
Americans were without benefit of
artillery, the Van Hassek officers
now would use the main bridge and
move across the Rio Grande N
force
Boil had covered less than two
hundred yards when runner ar
rived from Colonel DEM
1.-The colonel says get back as fast
as you can" the messenger pant
ed. Regiment Is pulling out right
away for the Nueces."
Hail an hour later, Boil painted
into the regimental position Cap
tain March, assistant plans and
training officer, came hurrying up
from vacated regimental position.
Regiment pulled out twenty min
utes ago." March reported to Boil.
you're to follow at once as rear
guard. Trucks are ready behind this
hill Colonel Dem left you some
baldoliers of extra ammunition, but
we ought TO get back of the Nueces
before We fight. Second Division is
taking position somewhere back
there. Hurry your men along, Cap
tain"
By jamming his men seventeen to
the truck, Boil got his command on
wheels Two trucks went to the
wounded, one TO his three remain
ing machine guns. He studied the
luminous dial Of his watch, an anx-
ious scowl on his face as his convoy
made ready to pull out The hour
was little past three o'clock.
A plane shot overhead, travelling
high and fast Its shrilling motors
sent chill down the captains spine.
It'll be just too bad for US if
we're not at the Nueces by day
light" he muttered to Captain
March. And with light due IN half
an hour, I'm afraid we just can't
make 1T"
Major General Brill, area com
mander, kept his head through tan
gled hours whose crises might have