| 2:58a |
@@@@@
"No, wait a minute," the General said"Can
@@@@@
"No, wait a minute," the General said"Can you tell me if the line to Second Battalion is in from here?"
"Yes, sir, it is
The General felt a deep relief"Ring them for me, please He lit a cigarette and smiled at Lieutenant HearnThe Captain picked up the receiver out of a field telephone box, and cranked three times"We have to relay it through B Battery, sir
"I know," the General said shortlyIt was the one subject on which the General ever showed annoyance; there was not a facet of the operations of the division with which he was not familiar
In a minute or two, the Captain handed the phone to the General"Second Battalion, sir
"Give me Samson," the General said, using the code name for Lieutenant Colonel Hutchins"Samson, this is Camel," he said, "I'm talking from Pivot RedWhat's happening? Are your lines through to Paragon White and Paragon Blue?"
"This is SamsonYes, our circuits are open The voice was faint and distant and there was a buzzing in the earpiece"Short," the General muttered
"We've been trying to get you," Hutchins said"We stopped the attack on Paragon White B and C, and at Paragon Red E and G He gave the co-ordinates"Personally I think it was a feeler, and they're going to try again tonight
"Yes," the General saidHe was busy estimating the possibilitiesThey would have to be reinforcedFirst Battalion of the 459th, Infantry which he had been holding in reserve and working on the road, could be moved up in two hours, but he would have to leave at least a company and a detached platoon behind for rese |