In spite of the fact that only in one instance had such a raid resulted
in any serious damage, the British Admiralty had been roundly censured.
Germany's policy of "whittling down" the British fleet, so that the
Germans could give battle on even terms, while by no means successful
thus far, had nevertheless considerably reduced the size of the English
navy. Some of her first-class cruisers, and one formidable dreadnought
had been sunk.

The French fleet in the Adriatic and in the Mediterranean had been
equally as inactive, although a squadron of British and French ships even
now was attempting to destroy the Turkish fortifications along the
Dardanelles, that a passage of the straits might be forced. So far this,
too, had been unsuccessful.

The fighting in France and Belgium, Alsace and Lorraine had now become a
series of battles for the possession of the various trenches that had
been dug. True, long-range artillery duels raged almost incessantly, but
the mass of both armies lay in the trenches, now attacking and capturing
the enemy's trenches, now being attacked and being driven out again.

Besides the artillery duels there were, of course, occasional skirmishes
between the cavalry, some growing to the proportions of real battles. But
the results of these had never been decisive. The mighty armies were
gripped in a deadlock, and indications pointed to this deadlock being
maintained until spring, when, with the disappearance of fierce
snowstorms and the breaking up of the terrific cold, a decisive battle
might be fought.

This was the situation up to date, when Hal and Chester, with the troop
of cavalry, set out on a reconnaissance of the enemy's position on the