The Ely miner., 1941-03-20

put an officer of lesser mettle in a
dizzy whirl.
Inventory disclosed that the Sec
ond Division had escaped the sud-
den storm with loss of forty-odd car
60 trucks, seventeen men, five Off
GERS, and two pieces of artillery.
Having given the Second its orders
to assemble and march On Kirk,
Brill set about his final tactical
plans.
From time to time Brill and his
staff were interrupted by reports
of air disasters over New Orleans,
Galveston, and Houston. Total losses
there aggregated twelve hundred.
General Brill directed his senior
aide to get General Hague at Wash
ington on the long-distance. The
hour was nearing three o'clock when
the Chief Of Staff of the Army
reported ready to talk.
MY best judgment is to pull out
Of here" Brill said, after he had re-
ported latest developments Ii Tex
as. We're too thin TO make fight
for San Antonio, but we can do some
good delaying back of the Colorado
and Brazos while you get troops
enough into the Fort Worth country
to make stand"
The Hague voice responded with
quiet drmness, You'll proceed at
once against the enemy, Brill, and
make a stand IN front of San An
tonic with your Second Division.
Brill groaned. But Hague, are
you sure you understand the whole
situation down here? It's simply in
viting a lot Of nasty losses to no
purpose. I haven't force enough
to"
Lets not debate the matter" Z"
General Hague Interrupted stoutly.
rs that clear, Brill?"
Perfectly, sir" There was nei-
ther remonstrance nor equivocation
In the area commander voice now.
In calm voice Brill repeated the
Hague decision to his staff. He Of
fered no comment. Without speak
ing, the staff went to work on its
new plan
Circling to the south, Brill found
the due-south road to Kirk, which
was under military traffic control,
and sped to the village, where he
found General Mole, division COM
mander. Mole was a thin bit of
military hickory now nearing retire
ment age.
General Mole received his superb
or's battle orders with a monosylla-
bic of acquiescence, as If to hoard
his jaded energies, and promptly set
to work with his staff. The division
staff was familiar with the country
and made prompt plans for organi-
zation of q defensive position. Or
ders were ready within half an hour,
and since there was no enemy i'm
mediately IN prospect, the regiments
proceeded to their positions In their
cargo trucks.
General Brill stood N the growing
dawn gravely watching the Second
pass out to its battle lines. A force
of 1887 enlisted men and two war
rant officers, led by SAG officers.
As Captain Boil sprang into his
station wagon with his heutenants,
and sped to the head Of his truck
column to set the pace, his eye
caught the fash of light that turned
the waning night into day some
miles ahead of him.
'.Step on heri" he barked at his
driver They'll. spot US IN a min
ute-and we're still IN artillery
range"
Boil sat with hands gripping his
knees while he observed the bursts.
Luckily they were striking to the
right and doing no damage. But
shortly the firing ceased, the air OBJ
server roared by again with a flare,
and rushed off to radio correction to
the distant gunners.
He saw that there was the first
touch Of gray IN the air, dawn only
a matter of minutes. It would be
miracle If he reached the Nueces
with half of his men and trucks.
As the night thinned out, he caught