On the morning of 28th September the German attack on Rheims was more violent than it had ever been before. From all parts of the Allied line came the same story of desperate attempts to break through, of hand-to-hand fighting, and terrible losses. That same evening the French, pushing forward, drove the Germans from their position. The whole French front moved forward, and, for the time being, Rheims was safe from capture, though big guns still rained shells upon it. * * * * * On September 29, 1914, the first batch of Indian troops arrived at Marseilles. As the transports hove to in sight of the gleaming limestone cliffs that flank the port a message from the King was read to them. "I know," wrote his Majesty, "with what readiness my brave and loyal Indian soldiers are prepared to fulfil their sacred trust on the field of battle, shoulder to shoulder with their comrades from all parts of the Empire. Rest assured that you will always be in my thoughts and prayers." As the vessels approached the quays they were greeted with loud cheers from crowds of townsfolk, most of whom had never seen an Indian soldier before. They marvelled at the dark faces, the turbans, the soldierly bearing, and the fine equipment of our Indian brothers. Later in the day the troops were marched through the city. As our dusky warriors, with their bright eyes and gleaming teeth, swung along the streets, the people shook them by the hand and cheered them again and again. Young girls showered flowers upon them and pinned roses to their tunics and turbans. Perhaps it was the little, sturdy, smiling Gurkhas who aroused the greatest enthusiasm. As they advanced behind their pipers, men, women, and children clambered on to the tables and chairs of the cafés to catch a glimpse of them, and the air rang with shouts of "_Vivent les Anglais!_"[149] "_Vivent les Hindous!_" The men were afterwards marched off to a rest camp, where they remained for a few weeks, preparing for the fiery ordeal that awaited them. [Illustration: Sikhs marching through Marseilles. _Photo, London News Agency._] [Footnote 132: See Vol. 1., p. 170.] [Footnote 133: _Bay-for´._] [Footnote 134: _Bartholdi_, French sculptor (1834-1904). The statue of Liberty referred to is 200 feet high, and was presented in 1886 to the United States by the French Government to mark the hundredth year of American independence. It stands on Bedloe's Island, at the mouth of New York harbour.] [Footnote 135: _Ā-pee-nal´._] [Footnote 136: _Tool._] [Footnote 137: See p. 215.] [Footnote 138: _Sar-eye´._] [Footnote 139: _San Mee-yel´._] [Footnote 140: _Vo-āvre._] [Footnote 141: In French, _tête-de-pont_, a fortified position covering that end of a bridge nearest to the enemy.] [Footnote 142: _Vā-renn´._] [Footnote 143: _Ve-en´._] [Footnote 144: _San Men-oo´._] [Footnote 145: The French spelling is _Reims_.]