Cheer Boys Cheer: The Boys' Journal, No. 62 — page 9: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~The Yellow Terror. Our Thrilling New Series of Complete Stories, Dealing with the Chinese Invasion of Our Homeland. N SEA ITI How China Fought the World! A Tale of the Peril to Come. Se NTR TE TN OA ee Te RAR RARER RASA AERA TERRA RAR RA CHAPTER 1, The Bombardment of Birmington, “Terrible fighting at Birmington! British driven.from the town! Thou- sands killed!” The disconcerting news was placarded over the whole of London—over the whole of the country. London was in a ferment; its millions of inhabitants were in a state of wild excitement and anxiety. The dreadful calamity which had befallen almost every Continental country was now becoming a reality in the British Isles. The vast armies of the Chinese Empire, having already swept over Europe with devastating results, were now actually pouring into England. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese soldiers occupied Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk; the yellow men were in possession of a powerful navy, and millions of men were on the Continent —only awaiting the word of Wang-Hi, the Chinese commander-in-chief, to swarm into England like a terrible plague of locusts. Birmington, one of the largest manufacturing centres in the Midlands, was now actually in the hands of the yellow invaders. The explosion of a huge gun factory, followed by a gallant charge of the British soldiers, had resulted in a brief.rout; but the Chinese had been almost immediately reinforced: by a big division from Yeldburgh. Before an hour had expired, the Chinese were in possession of the fine city, and by night not a single white man lived in Birmington.- Thousands of British had retreated against over- whelming odds, but thousands more had paid the grim penalty of war in the brief but furious struggle. Britain was a nation aroused; mobilisation was in progress in every town, village, and hamlet. Thousands of women and children were leaving for America by every available liner, for everyone realised that it was going to be a stupendous struggle—a struggle for supremacy between yellow heathens and white civilisation. And two of the most talked-of persons in England were mere boys—Jimmy Harding and Steve Milford—a pair of gallant young heroes, who had escaped from the Chinese camp at Yeldburgh, and conveyed Wang-Hi’s secret plans to General Sir Charles Penrose at Birmington, thus preventing the Chinese from seizing a precious store of rifles and ammunition. To-day—a brilliant summer’s day— presented an animated scene in the hilly country south of Birmington. A division of the British Army had arrived, and General Penrose had been placed in command. He lost no time am formulating plans for the defeat of the Chinese. Since daybreak the soldiers had been working at fever-heat constructing trenches, and now they were almost completed. The Howitzer Brigade had been busy, and the guns were already mounted in their positions. So, too, were the heavy field quick-firers. The British position was fairly humming with activity, and General Penrose, from his headquarters, regarded the scene with a grim, satisfied smile. ‘We have done well,’”’ he said, turn- ing to Second-Lieutenant Munns, one of his aides-de-camp. ‘‘I think we shall drive the Chinese from Birming- ton. A taste of these big guns will be a surprise for the vermin, I imagine.” **'You’re right, sir,’’? answered the subaltern cheerfully. ‘Ten minutes ago Major Wilson reported that the howitzers were in position, and the big artillery’s just itching to start work. The entrenchments are complete, and ““Txcuse me, Munns,’’ interrupted the general, ‘“‘what are those two figures standing on that little knoll yonder ?”’ Second Lieutenant Munns gazed through his binoculars. “Oh, they’re those two youngsters, Me i M3 % ik *& ik ik 2K ar % Each of these thrilling stories is quite complete in itself. Tell your chums about them ! Sf RON ON I A A ORNS SE EO Me HEAR SARAH AE HE AA ERO RK Me KAR RAAT IRATE No. 4—A HERO AFTER ALL, sir, who escaped from the Chinese at Yeldburgh !” ? : “J thought so,” said Sir Charles. “Have them sent to me at once, please!’ The aide-de-camp saluted, and ten minutes later Jimmy Harding and Steve Milford were standing, rather nervously, in the general’s tent, before the great man himself. He regarded his two visitors with a thoughtful ex- pression upon his grave face. “My boys,” he said seriously, “T have heard a good deal about you— how you brought the first news of tne Chinese invasion, how you took part in the North Sea battle, and how you escaped from the enemy at Yeldburgh. I am proud of you, for you have done as much for your country as any two lads possibly could have done. But I wish to tell you that, in remaining with us, you are running a very grave risk. These Chinese, in spite of their com- paratively untrained condition, are so numerous that we may be _ over- whelmed. If you wish it, I will see that you are safely escorted to a place of safety ———’”’ ‘Oh, sir,” cried Jimmy, in dismay, ‘you're not going to send us away !”’ ““We want to stay, sir!’’ exclaimed Steve anxiously. ‘‘ We want to be in the thick of it, sir!” General Penrose smiled quietly. “You really wish to remain with us?’ he asked. ‘‘ You wish to make yourselves useful in every way possible ?”’ “Ves, sir!” cried the two youngsters eagerly. “T am glad to hear you say that, my lads,” said the general quietly. “Indeed, I should have been very dis- appointed had you answered otherwise. But let me tell you that it is very unusual for boys to be on active service. In the present crisis, however. the pro- clamation has been issued that every able-bodied person over the age of fifteen must serve bis country. You two have already proved your sterling —— CigSra mage seers [eSxo at Loner ieee SREP eg a EE ES