Even while he spoke there were signs of confusion up in front.  Groups of men came in sight evidently retreating.  Machine gun crews, bringing their weapons with them, were hurriedly setting them up in new positions.  There would be a few discharges and then they would be forced to retreat still further.  They were fighting splendidly, and putting up a dogged resistance, yielding ground only foot by foot, but to the experienced eyes of the boys there was no mistaking the signs. The enemy had broken through the first line positions.