After this period had passed, Tom and Jack, with a squadron of other
birdmen were sent to a certain section of the front held largely by
American troops, supported by veteran French and British regiments.
It was the first wholly American aircraft camp established since the
beginning of the World War, and it was not even yet as wholly
American as it was destined to be later, for the aviators were, as
regards veterans, largely French and English. Torn and Jack were,
in point of service, the ranking American fliers for a time.
There had been several sharp engagements across No Man's Land
between the mingled French, British and French forces and the Huns,
and honors were on the side of the former. There had been one or
two combats in the air, in which Tom and Jack had taken part, when
one day word came from an observation balloon on the American side
that a flock of German aircraft was on the way from a camp located a
few miles within the Boche lines.
There was a harried consultation of the officers, and then orders
were given for a half score of the Allied machines to get ready.
Two veteran French aces were to be in command, with Tom and Jack as
helpers, and some of the American aviators were to go into the
battle of the air for the first time.
"The Huns are evidently going to try to bomb some of our ammunition
dumps behind our lines,"' said one officer, speaking to Tom.
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