Nebraska Newspapers

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TIlE OMAhA DAILY BETh SUNDAY ATTGUST 14 ISOS.
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e TII [ IOSJrROVINCSa _
; 110w Vanslttart Came Back to ftanc
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By Lotus Tracy.
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( Copyright , 1SG , by Louis Tracy. )
CHAPTER &V.
: LpIr.'hiti' , It
When the history of the war of the to-
Oflgo comes to ho written the foremost
ZIaCO ! 2 thftt remarkable work viIL be as-
fflgnc(1 to tlio r1o of ( ho , OOO.
To be a tlOSCCfllflflt of ano of the & ,000
'was rt tIsttnctIon for a youth atid a ( lowry
for a makicu. No shullar achievement
bdorncd tim annals ot their great country.
For a lroper understanllng of the scope
tuiil object of this tlnrrccelentcd ( military
peration it Is necessary to quote fully the
nomorandum drawn tin with such care by
Vansittart ( luring the mcetlng o the cab-
Thet.
It was collectively addressed to Generals
Vlllonouvc , laflbison aitci Le lireton ( ( lie
Thst-narncd having attaiped the rank at-
t
ieatly ) anti ran as rollows :
"It is my Intention that a eoiumn shall
'ho formeil at 3ciinii forthwith ami ( his.
hatched , when fully equipped , for tile pur-
1)030 of cutting into and lcstroylng the
German hues of cominunlcatioii.
"Tim column vhll consist of 5,1)00 ) so-
lectetl cavalry , sobhiers , r.rthlherlsts and engineers -
gineers and for the iIrliose of the expetil-
tion they rllt be supptl.l tIthi two bores
per offlcor aitil man cngaed. The arias
carried will Ito sabers , revolvers , carbines
and a small number of maclime giliis. The
3 . order of prIority shows ( lie inaniler of their
1150 , whIch must be ohely defensive.
"No wheeled vehicles , ainbuhanceti. tents
0 ! baggage can be taken. The column
must , when occaSIon ( lcmnnds , ho able to
niovo at. the rate of ten kilometers ( seven
miles ) per hour. flacli member of ( lie ox-
3dttlon vihl carry ( coil atiti gralit for himself -
self and his horses , but squadthliig arrange-
meats will be maado for the conveyance of
reserve ammunition , imphetneii(5 , ( hynanlite
lind hilastlng powder.
'Anythimig approaching an engagement
\vtth the enemy must be absolutely avolled.
Pighting wilt ho time last alternative , but If
the only way tics through the hostile lines ,
; then that Is the * ny.
"Those who fail ilie on behalf of France ;
J those who live and icrforni their duties
, will have rendered their country the maximum -
mum of good service.
"Time object of the column Is destruction.
othiIng of value to the enemy must be
, Fparcd. Italiroads , telegraph hues. bridges ,
5.
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. Vh1EN ALL4 hAD I'ASSED , TII DYNA
MITI DID ITS WORK.
ohhing stochccomnmlssarlat trains , equlpage
and stores of every description , the only
' cxcoptlon being hospital appliances , must
be wrecked , burned or blown up.
"The total distance to be covered , talcing
thu line of the fromitier front Viliorupt. to
] 1arkircb , and allowing for dlgreastoxis , Is ,
say , 12 mties. 1 wIll regar(1 it as an excel-
lout performance If the column emerges at
13t. Marie aux Mines ( Marktrch ) within live
tays.
"General Viiieneuvo will provide horses ,
stores and equipment , a highly Important
Item being no abumidauco of good maps of
iho frontier. General laubissomi viil su-
pervlso time selection of olficers ammil men.
General Lu Jiroton will take command of
tue column ,
"I leave to Lo llreton complete discretion
as to the particular route to be followed ,
viietiier In French or German territory.
! I'Iio measure of his success vlhl be the toss
and delay Inihicted upon the euemy' $ lines
of communication.
" 1 would recommend , however , that lie
UlvIdo his force Into five email brlgndes.
that at the llret unIt be should explain to
every olllcer and man the exact nature ( if
the enterprise and the conditlomis govern-
lag It-that ito should start emi Wednestlay ,
and ( hint the rapidity of his advance shotilti
ho goverimeti only by tim mnimmimnumu of time
required to destroy peimnanent works. Time
resistance offered by time enemy , wlm'n tmmma-
Voidable , elmould never Lileck time forward
mmovemont of time exiwihitiun ,
"In conclusion , I wish General La flreton
and hits ollicers amid mmmcc good fortuiie.
Prance conmimmita her destinies to their imuaths ,
nnti I am asstmrcd they will prove worthy
of the trust.
"My frienmla-to our miext vresident ! "
Such as time extraurihluary "order of
limo day" that Lo liroton causeil to lie
: eati out to every company Ic. his little
'I army vlmeri , on ( ho evening \\'ednesilny \ ,
it lmalteil for aim hour ahmimost wIthIn sight
of time cimnrmmmimig village of Lougnywi , situ-
nteil at the coniluemice of lImo ( 'lusno and
thu Chiera amid noteworthy us the Junction
of tvo frontier hues of rail.
Thu expedition had gained Montmnedy by
I HEADACHE
, liflotli mfl Vi1O alid uyseiflmava been
using CSA1ilTS amid they are the beet
medIcine we have ever lied in the itemise. Last
'wectc my wtfo wan frantlo with headache for
twodsyv , she trtei somneot Y0ImCCASOAIIETS ,
sail they relieved tile pain In her Imesi ahimiost
Immediately both recommend Cusearcis. "
OllAs. STuaronu ,
1'Ittsburg Safe t lioposit Co. , l'ittsburg , Pa.
Ic
TRADS MASs 5Om5TtRgD
1 l'Ieisni. Palat&b101 i'otent. 'mete Good. 1)0
1 Good , kver ttcl.ii , cuLtmm , or Grle , tOe , 2eWo.
. . . CURE CONSTIPATION.
BIIll. Itrady I'apsi ; , ISIftG , ( ( , b. Tori , 311
n n R 8014 amid , mnrnnted t' ' , all drug.
UI U ? gisistu CVI.L1'i bsceo 1iat4.
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rail from sedan , thus saving bors antI
men In a tiresome amid useless march of
thirty miles. Ii. was risky , this raliway
trip. Longttyon , eleven miles further on ,
was In ( lie hands of the Germans and a
strong column would assuredly be detached
from the northern army to attack Montmedy ,
thus providing security on the right flank
of the invaders. Vanslttart had foreseen
such a meove-lience his order to mobilize
at sedan.
hut he lireton Judged rightly that time
vas more Importalit than risk mind ho was
above all timings anxious to get to work be
tome amiy irmkiltig of lila approach could be
obtained by the Germans.
' , I.I , , i.Inllnr'z ( n iivt. to
11W , IIL. ULU iIW 'h' ' . . . . . . . . . . . . .
every mean the opportunIty of quitting the
cxietiltion before It was too late and to
lay imarticuhar streas tipon tbe sad necessity
there was to nbandon alt who were so so-
verehy wounded as to be unnble to ride.
Out of fOOO troopers only one man , a
private of the } ighteenth chiassours in the
Third brigade , stood out frona time ranks
when his hirignihier invited timse ivho bad
aught to say to declare themselves.
lie was it mmativo of Tarnscon , a burly and
musculnr muon , who had hitherto booms re-
gartled by his comrades as somewhat of a
fire-eater.
Ills seeming defection was greeted with a
roar of imidigmintion hmy ( lie Elhteenth.
"Ilola , Tartarin. " ehled one. "Thou
scest a lion , then ! "
"This is no Picnic for a capehooter ! " cried
another , and the laugh at thietme allusions to
his imnmnortnl birthplace converted time corn-
mon vrathm into scorn.
I'Ierro Laromido turned florcely on the
sea ff cr5.
"I fotmght with the emperor in the desert
and rode with him to meet ( 'ic pesIdent , "
he veheimwntiy cried. "Those whim are be-
lowing ( liii neither , I shiotmld ttnk. "
The credentials were excellent ; they procured -
cured silence.
"Well , what of it ? " said time oflicer good
imumnaredly. Ito saw that It wz.s no recreaut
lmo approached him.
"I ask the honor of a word with the gen-
oral. "
"Hum , 'tis contrary to ( hsc1iino ! ! , but this
Is no time for ceremony. Corntt with me. "
When the Pair stood befora Le hireton
Laromide was in no wise abashed.
"General. " he said , "I see a way of doing
you some service. "
"Out with it , and quickly. "
"When J listened to the orders 1 saId to
myself : 'Pierre , it is well thought of , but
perhaps tile genemal , in attending to many
things , may have forgotten one. The Germans -
mans are well served by field telegraph , and
they must be prevented at the outset from
making dispositions to stop our advance by
too great force ? ' Such was my reflection ,
general. "
'Time reflection is good , soldier. Hast a
plaul"
"But yts. I anti nine chosen comrades ,
two of whom can speak German and work
a telegraph Instrument , will , It you approve ,
general , try to get through the enemy's
pickets at dusk , find the line to Damvihhtors ,
time headquarters of General Kreuznaeh , cut
it , conmmcct up again , amid tell him that a
reconnoisanco in force Is in progress along
the right bank of the Mouse from Mont-
medy. ' '
" [ Ta ! Kreuznach will think we travel
south rather thmams vest ? "
"So. general , "
"Tliy name , soldier ? "
"Pierre Laronde. "
"Do timis , Laronde , and when you oext
meet mae you receive your epaulets. I hike
ofllcers who can think. "
The i.au flushect with pleasure. Ho
fleeIed no higher Incentive.
At 9 o'clock that night a message from
the German commander at Longuyon informing -
forming time headquarters staff that all was
quiet ott ( lie flank was suddenly interruptoil.
Tue operator in Longuyon , finding his
Instrument useless , reported the fact to his
chief , who had also just received the an-
pleasant Intelligence that two sentries had
apparently been surprised and killed.
A cavalry cadet came gaiiioplng up. "Cot-
onci , a strong body of the enemy's horse
Is advancing down ( ho htll toward the
bridge. "
To give color to this statement a sptit-
tering of rifle fire broke out and momentarily
grew iii volume.
Iii fifteen minutes Longuyon was cleared
of uhlamis and liavarlans , three bridges were
destroyed , two railroad vinducts blown up
and a working party was busy planting a
batch of dymmamnito cartridges with detonating
fusea In a long tunnel that pierced the
bills leading to the frontier.
To the ( ] ermans contusion and chaos
seemed to reign unchecked ,
Those who kept. their senses and were In
tOtleiL With the flghtiiig could not fall to
notice that a vast body of horse , hoe4iees
of time comilhict , poured headlong through the
village In the direction of Diedenbofen.
Meanwililil time defenders of the post were
actively hunted Imi every direction.
A troop train , with several officers anti
belt a battahioli of Ilanovertans on board ,
dashed off towarl Spincotirt , the nearest
point imy rail to Damviiiiers , and the nisin
iimme of German communication , but it
plunged into a ravine at a irnint where
i'ierro Lntlronde and lila little band hail
thommgbtfuiiy removed a rail.
hly midnight an emitiro division had been
put lii motion by General Kreuznach sail
was hastening northward with the utmost
speed , ems miot a word of reply could the
staff get to ( lie aimiguier and startling message -
sage from Lomlguyon , which came to hand
at 9lQ p. in.
'l'itey encountered stragglers from ( he
threatened flank , who announeeti that a
Fremich column-a division , aim army corps
of lOOOOO muon-had occupied Longuyon and
was in full pursuit. Thereupon tue coin-
itiander of time relief thought it his duty
to halt titstIi daylight , I1 did so , marched
cautiously to Longuyon and found only the
evidences of the preceding night's ( hisamlier.
4\t 10 o'clock ii dull explosion , followed
by a vIolent earth tremor , meant that two
months' hard work would scarce utflee to
mmko lImo railway tunnel serviceablu amgami ,
and Pierre I.arondo antI his comuraties
tiiougimt It high time to catch some rider-
hess horses end rIde fast after the main
body ,
I , ilreton's flC'thOtl of advance was ad.
immirattle , W'itenevor a bridge hail to be tie-
stroycti or a section of the parallel railway
dtsmmmantieti , a amitall larty halted and began
their tireparatiomis , while time remainder of
the force itresseti On through the darkness.
' ' , 'lmen cli bath jassed the duamite did
its work amid time wreckers rode off to be.
come ( tie rear guard in their turn ,
tixteen miles from Lomiguyon the head
of the expedition reached Autiun.fo-ltonian ,
the erstwhiio French frontier custom house.
here a small infantry guard was cut up
and two customs olficers , captured in the
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first surprise of the Invasion , sit at liberty -
erty and told to escape as best they might.
Half an hour more and the sound of
tiring in front , instantaneously drowned In
a wild outburst of cheering , procisimed time
fact to villagers startled from their sleep
that for the first tUne in a generation an
armed force of Frenchmen bad set toot
lpon the soil of Lorraine.
This was Fontoy , or Fentsch , as time Germans -
mans have It , and hero to i3reton received
a severe check , unpremeditated by either
side.
side.The
The lending troopers cantered round a
bend into the village Street anti found
themselves in a swarm of soldiers , infantry
and artillery , being the nucleus of a dlvi-
sion now hastily forming in order to reinforce -
inforce the main body on the detmse. Tue
hasty resolve of the Kaiser Wilhelm to
penetrate into Franca at all cost In
process of realization at that moment.
After the first nsii of amazement the
stolid Teutona recovered themselves and a
fierce affray at once began , growing in-
stnntly in volume as combatants from both
sides packeti into the narrow street ,
Here , of course , the well drilled infantry
had the advantage. In nuother minute
volley firing would have 4letermined time
melee , when i.e lireton , wlis' rode ever close
to the advance guard , arrived.
A single glance revealed tue situation to
him , lie saw that his heading squadron
must be sacrificed if he woulti save the rest.
Spurring his horse into a furious gallop he
rode back and halted the First brigade.
Reaching a cross road he halted ( he See-
onmi and pieced tour machine guns here ,
simultaneousiy retiring the First brigade
southward to time right.
The remainder followed , but the move-
meet had barely started when the rem-
cant of the advance guard fell back , closely
pursued by some mounted German gun-
mierim with a mass of lmmfantry pressing on
behind.
l3ut L Breton's turn bad come. The
great advantage of the machine gun is
that its fire is as destructive by night as
by day , once ( be position of the enemy is
clearly defined.
In this case all that was needed waste
to align the guns along a comparatively
level road and blaze away , the tour pour-
leg an absolute torrent of lead into the
mixed German force.
Nothing could live against It. The ur-
suers , unable to retreat with suffIcient rapidity -
pidity , owing to the crowding and confusion -
fusion behind. suffered frightfully. alun- '
dreda of men fell In that slaughter house
and those who sought to escape into the
fields were ruthlessly cut down by French
cavalry , posted there to prevent at alt haz-
antis a flank attack on the new line of ad-
vance.
It must be remembered that the German
otflccrs were wholly lgaorant or the true
position and consequently unable to make
bottei d1nnIt1ofl for nsau1tlne this mar-
meet volt. If 'ou eannot-wehl-nurevolrl"
( 'olonch Montuloy saluted , mounted anti
cantered off to place his column in motion. .
A tow minutes later the diminished main
body toiloweil , but. ( l'viated to time left anti
qulckiy gained the high road lo Metz. here
they tell in with mume scouting Uhlmsns ,
riding furiously toward Dieienhoten ( to discover -
cover the cause of the complete breakdown
in time telegraph to that important center ,
None of these gentry escaped , else within
nfl lmotir every cavalry soldier In Metz would
have hmeemi in tint chase of time venturesome
quarry.
he hireton's advance now lay across cotin-
try to Lea Etangs , anti thence to the rendezvous -
dezvous at Ieuze ! through Courceiles , Foul-
igns and Foulquemont. The reader who
follows tue course of events on a good niap
of rorraimme wIll quickly see the general's
object imi splitting hula force.
Should the Junction by any chance ho effected -
fected ( lie two sections would lmvc doilo
emiormotis damage to no less than thirteen
lines of strategic railways and twenty-four
cmlii roads. Nearly the whole of these were
constructed for ( ito sole purpose of convey-
leg troops timid war material to the frontier ,
It would be a phenomenal achievement to
render this importent section of the German
conimnunicatlons wholly tmseIes8 for a time
and very inadequate for a much longer Per-
loti , as even German military engineers cc-
qulre ninny days , perhaps weeks , to effect-
Rely bridge ruined vioducts , repair torn em-
bankrnents and relay uprooted rails ,
Metz , too , wommid be completely isolated ,
anti this in itself wan n magnificent result ,
the great fortress beimmg it veritable store.
house of munitions of war.
'hiIist the two columns went on with their
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IN A FEW STRIDES TIlE LEADING SQUADRON WAS IN THE MIDST OF TILE
BATTLI.
velotis foowbo had sprung from nowhere.
And ho disappeared as promptly as he
had arrived , icaving murderous tokens of
tile visit In the human shambles just beyond -
yond time village , while a series of cx-
phosions In the distance told the listeners
tlat wherever thu road crossed a stream
the bridge was destroyed.
Two miles from Foatoy Lo Breton or-
dercil a much needed halt.
It was now I o'clock. There was no tin-
mediate tear of pursuit or efilciently organized -
ganized resistance , though the German staff
at Damvllliers amid Thionville , Metz and
Mare Ia Tour , were frenzied with annoy-
mince at their Inability to discover exactly
what was going on.
Orderlies raced about on horseback , field
telographe clicked Incessantly , even the emperor -
peror at Fresnes was waked out of a sound
sleep-but In vain. The Incomparable Ocr-
man system of intelligence , which would
have discovered a stray horse at any point
over their fifty miles of front , was powerless -
less to locate La Ilreton and. his little host ,
for ( ho simple reason that lie was now many
miles in the rear of the main body and hail
already much ( hlsaranged ( lie whole of the
northerly communications.
Until daybreak he was comparatively safe ,
Horses were picketed , some food hastily
eaten and the whole force composed Itself
for four hours' sleep ,
Beyond ascertainizig that his total losses
50 far amounted to sixty-seven men and
three olllcora killed and wounded , with some
hundred odd horses lost , he imad no fresh
anxieties to deal with. Ills route was cut
and dried and every detail settled in consultation -
tation with his ofilcers. Events must be
dealt with as ( lucy arrived , They could not
ho anticipated.
"So far , " growled La Breton as lie corn-
posed l'imnself to rest With lila saddle lisp
for a 1)1110w , "I don't think Vatisittart himself -
self could have done better. "
The first beams of light foiled time little
force masking Its toilet after a fashion do.
scribed by the regimental wag of the
Eighteenth as a In mode chico , A hearty
shake amid a vigorous stretch , followed by
a breakfast of tinned beef , biscuit amid a
drink of wilma from time stock of o local
cabaret , formed the preliminary to an event-
fimi day ,
Whilst all bands were busy saddling tip
thmo general called to him the second in
command , Colonel Montsaloy , a slight , act.
lye cavalry orncer , whose cheek bones , chum ,
siioulderm and elbows were all based oim a
well known proposition of Fucll(1 affecting
the properties of a right. angle ,
"Moutsaloy , " lie said , "give mae your
map , "
Time other liroduced tile military chart and
Lo Dretomi traced a line on It , "I have
beets thinking out the situation during the
last half lmour , " ho said , "and haye decided
on an important alternative. My original
lmitentiomm was , its you know , to tasa southward -
ward behind Metz , leaving It on my rigimt.
That holds good , but if we want to avoid
the certainty of being cut to pieces before
the evening we must create a diversiomi.
They will took for us at first between MetS
imimd the frontier.'ehi , they must find you
amid a brigade there , "
"I utideratatid you fully , general. "
"Good , You will proceed by way of lirley ,
Confians , Mars Ia Tour and Veroy to flicuze.
U you can gel , there by 5 oclock I will
4t
t t I . $ & , .
work of devastation the entire German host ,
spread over a superficial area of nearly 2,000
miles , was in an uproer.
The German staff was called upon to deal
with , not war , but rampant lunacy. Somewhere -
where in their midst a number of mailmen ,
estimated variously from a regiment to an
array corps , were raging about with antIcs
similar to the struggles of a blue bottle In
a spider's web.
The speed of their movements , ( ho astounding -
tounding effect ot their passage , the con-
tlicting reports as to their location at any
particular time , were ehl calculated to upset -
set the theortts bred in the schoolot the
last war with France.
There bad been fighting In many places ,
that was clear. But effectual pursuit was a
different matter. Infantry was useless , anti
imeithor cavalry nor guns could hope to
travel rapidly along a road once Le Bretoa
or Montsaloy had passed that way.
Nevertheless , as the day wore , something
alclu to definiteness took the place of the
frenzied statements of the night and early
morning.
The object of tue raiders was now clear
enough. Not lunacy , but superb mIlitary
genius , had dictated this deadly blow at the
German oriranization. The niithoritl nt
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Forbach 111 ; aSarrebourg hastily concerted
measures to defend every important railway
junction betweemi those centers , and when
General Le I3reten halted imis troepors at 2
o'clock on the arid , salt-laden plaimi between
Chateau Salins and Dieuze , the presence of
numneroims vedettes en the horizon warned
him that his next forward step would ho
severely contested ,
! Le was not mistaken. The salt mines at
the latter town were crammed with Ocr-
man Infantry. But they opened fire at a
long range. This helped him a little , as he
took ground to the rIght-only to find the
raiiway line to Nancy swarming with race ,
At the range his machine guns were useless -
less , and to give the necessary dramatic
touch to time situation , three regiments of
cavalry vltlm six guns trotted into view rIght
ahead , the artillery promptly trying his
metal with slmrapiiel.
\Vitim tired men and exhausted imorsea Lo
l3retou knew that ho was in a tight fix. In
tact , he afterward admitted that lie was
quite certain his enterprise had there and
themi come to an untimely emiul.
13ut it ito despaired ho did not hesitate.
Ttldlmig to ( lie head of his column , ho hmointeil
vitim his saber to time enemy's cavalry amid
shouted :
"Timero lies our road , my children , " and
his wearied troopers made a bravo effort
to follow iiim ,
For tbo pmmrposo of a charge they did hot
nimmber 2,000 , as time led horses , otherwise
80 imseful , were now an embarrassment , and
half of his mcmi vere guiding three animals
apiece In the rear.
The frightful dust , too , rising from the
saline plain , added to the general discomem-
fort , In a word , everyone expected that the
foray hind collapsed ,
The Chermamm gumis were on the enommiy's
loft , which rested cmi some broken groummd ,
By rare good luck for the French the ur-
tilierists , reserve man hurrying to time
front , were now to their work and their
liractico was bad.
Just mis time ( herman cavalry was breaking
into a gallop to meet the onset , a fearful
commotion broke out on their left.
Momitsaloy bail turned up In tIme nick of
time and was now sabering the guummcre
and talcimig time Imorso in Ihamik ,
Time unequal odds of time combat swmmng
round with a vengeammce. In place of Ocr-
nians carving l'remicbmemx it was a case of
precipitate Ilight to avoid being carved in
their turn ,
W'hmmt pmmzzleil I.e lireton most , even in
the midst of the melee , was the inanimer iii
which I'lomltsaloy's brigamie rode iron ) out
time defile , Their chargers Iny to as though
taking part In a field day at Versailles.
But Montsaloy eoomm explained : "I came
upon six traioloads of remmiounts on the line
between imere anti Vie , " lie shouted. "I
boxed them In between two broken culverts ,
helped myself , loft a small guard and the
remainder are waiting ( or you , "
ii ( ) . I 1(4 , Se'oii , 1)mm ) ' itmiticil ,
CIIAPTEIt V.
Success is a womiulerful tonic for fatigno.
This wholly unexpected escape from threat.
enel annihilation raised the stunts cccl (118.
pehled time weariness of every mean in the
expedition.
1ommtsmmloy's lucky find of German cavalry
horses enabled the troops to repluce more
than half of their own wearied animals ,
which , by the rutlihess law of war , they were
compelled to shoot ,
Another desperate effort enabled them , as
evening fell , to gain the shelter of it defile
in the Vosges mountains , So tired were
many of time troopers that they slept as they
roche , amid at the earliest possible moment I.e
lireton baited to enable them to recuperate
somewhat.
Toward mIdnight the unpleasant inquisitiveness -
tiveness of the enemy's cavalry scouts forced
the Frefich commander to once more arouse
hits worn-out followers. For two hours they
jogged steadily onward tiirougim rocky vat-
leys , shrouded in gloom by the frowning
heights. Timen I.e lireton decided ( hot , come
what might , his niefi and horses should have
a thorough rest , else they would ho absolutely -
solutely unfitted for time stern work of the
following day.
The Gecinanit , of course , were now on ( lie
alert througimout the wimohe of their southern
hues of conhmection.
Time emperor sent bitter and scathing telegrams -
grams to the generals of division at F'orhach
and Sarrelbourg for having allowed the
quarry to slip through their hands , and ( ho
latter unfortunate officer was suuimariiy tIe-
graded in rank ,
'Zho headquarters staff felt certain , from
time latest details to hiaimd , that ii French
imaratmhers tvotiltl en'icaor to regain time
shelter of their coniriules' ciiIromicime1 camp
at Limnevilie ; imp'ratlve orinrs we're in
consequence giocti for a liowerfut fmni'o to
cattier In time ncgiiborhucoti of Avrcourt (
ntuml Iiehmiiont iii oelec to cut them up whemi
they .ppeared ,
Auth cimt up they assuredly must have
beemi had they tried to force thIs passage
at any Iliac after daybreak on Friday morn-
ing. Every hilltop was himmed with scouts ,
every road anti possible outlet crowned with
furious German troops , longing for the op-
pom ttmmlitl' of revenging the Insults heaped
upon their armns , and the frigiitfimi havoc
done to their cammnuicatlona by this intrepid -
trepid body of horse ,
hour after hour the Germans waited ,
eagerly scouring the eastern horizon for
tite first sIgns of their approaching emieniles ,
At last they were roused Into frenzIed oc-
tirity. The enemy hail inhL'ed arrived , but
from a wholly tmnexpectcd quarter.
General Iamibisson , in person , leadIng a
strong recennoissance of cavalry antI horse
artillery from Limneville , was now forcing
a passage through ( lie new mnr of the Ocr-
mmian imivaders , Of this more anon ,
At 9 o'clock omm a bright May morning
Le I3reton antI his brigadiers rode along
the rnmmks of their gallant followers , addressing -
dressing words of encouragement mmd good
cheer to the men.
The general had resolved upon thmi cx-
cemmtion of one last botil coup hetor. the
final dash was made for liberty and Fronce.
There , five miles away , on the other side
of tlme Simirmueck pass , 1st' tb little town
of Mutzig , a great depot and manufactory
of small arms and nrnmunitiomm , bUT now ,
be learned from the peasants , denuded of
defenders save some hundreds of humsily oc-
etipled workmen , most of whom were secretly -
cretly cnthmmsiastlc Alsmitiamis ,
Fifteen miles furtimer east the Rhine flowed
between vine-clad cliffs and In the inter.
vening country were the main lInes of rail'
way between Strasburg and Colmar , two
branch hues , time Rhine canal and two main
roads north and south.
To ruin Mutzig and its stores and destroy
the thoroughfares by rail , road anti water ,
would indeed provide a glorious finale to
the mQst remarkable mmchlevemeut. ever
carried through by so small a force In a
country held by such armies as owned the
sway of the kaiser.
140 Ilreton made no secret of his desperate -
ate enterprise end his men acclaimed him
as ho told them wbat ho wanted them to do.
After all they had already accomplinsheil
under his guidance they would have fol-
hewed hun In an attack upon Mets itself !
The column had crossed the top of the
pasa when the rear guard saw through their
glasses a. solitary horseman spurring fu-
rlously after them. Ito was hatless , dressed
In civilian attire and obvIously alone.
They waited in silence until he drew near.
When they halted hIm be explained , with
an um'Inmistakabio British aceut , that ho
was one of the war correspondents of time
Times and asked to be brought before the
general.
This newcomer was in strange plight.
His clothes were tern anl shot through in
several places. Along his right cheek a
bullet had torn a slight furrow which hail
nevertheless bled profusely and rendered
him a sorry object. HIs horse , a flab
hunter , was in the last stage of exhmaus-
tion and barely able to support himself by
propping out his forelegs when the mysterious -
rious rider dismounted. The man , too ,
though strongly built and hard looking ,
was clearly sufferIng from hunger and
fatigue ,
Yet hIs manner was perfectly calm and
the French soldiers marveled whence or
how ho had reached them , whilst they
noted , wIth silent approbation , that his first
thought was for his horse , in whose behalf
he obtained a pail of water and some food.
The officer he addressed ( lid not know
how to deal with this apparition , so he
promptly acceded to his request and took
him to the general.
"Whom have we here ? " was Le flreton'a
first question.
The Englishman produced his ofliclai
pass , signed by Villeuetmvo and Daubisson ,
setting forth that he was Mr. Herbert. Fairfax -
fax , war correspondent of the Times mind
fully accredited to accompany the French
armies in the field ,
"But how Is timia ? " cried the astounded
general. "Vtmcnce come you ? "
"From Luneville , I left last night In ad-
vamice of General Daubisson's column , "
"Columol What column , monsieur ? "
"A cavalry reconnaissance In force , which
by timis time is breaking through the German
( jomit at St. Die , "
"W'lth itiat object ? "
"lii order to ascertmiimi your whereabouts
amid assist you if possible , "
"Diable , 'tis well , Yet. how could Daubis.
5011 guess my position so accurately ? "
"It. was hardly a guess , Mr. Vausittart ,
informed froni England and iehgiumn of your
progress , estimated that you would be in
this neighborhood today , and probably hard
pressed , so lie asked the commander in chief
to try and help you , "
"Monsieur , you bring good news. Never.
timeless , 1 ama at a loss to know by what
mmieans you have reached me. "
' ' 0 , I just atoned anti here I am , "
"thy St. Iemils , I see you , hut my brains
do mmot travel so quickly as may eyes , here
you are , immdeedh 110w did you get here ?
\'by did not time flermmians stop you ? "
"Timey tried all they knew , " said Fairfax ,
immdlcating with a smile lila scarred face anti
torn clothes. "hut it is uhithicuit to shoot
straight at night and I was better mounted
then tIme ublans , I regret time necessity that
compeiled mmie to bore holes ut three of
( bum , ' '
"Monsieimr , " cried Lu liretomi , "your are an
Engiishimmmimmt Let It sullIed Emunugli for
1mb that you are a bravo man. I welcome
yomi. Yet imiust 1 filth timat you have Joined
us at a ticklish mmiommient. "
"I wanted something to write about , "
laughed the other , "and if au i hear be true ,
you are providlog first rate 'copy. ' hut before -
fore we proceed , general , mnay I smmggt'St that
a few trustworthy men , hiding anmong timese
imulls , iuay fall in with General Daubissomm
amid give him definite imuws of your intcn-
tions ? "
TIm hint was acteuh upon-with excellent
effect.
Mutzlg was attacked at 11:30 : a , in. The
small body of defenders were taken by surprise -
prise , but they wore able to close the gates
and line the ancient fortification on the
threatened side ,
A vigorous use of the machine guns and
( be carbines of time dismounted troopers
soon settled this effort at resistance. The
rappers crossed the trench anti tore the
ironwork of the gate into pieces with dmn-
mite , whereilpen limo Germans surrendered
with discretion ,
Whilst this btisy work wits in pmgress
Colomml Mormtsaioy and his brigade again
struck off across country on it four miles'
ride to Obernat. where ft railway and a mtimiin
road Intersecteil each other.
In Mutzlg tim Frenchmen speethilY ills-
mantled time small arnis factory. The tern-
fled townspeople , unable to escape into the
country and fearful of the destruction nOW
being wrecked tmpon a colossal scale , remained -
mained in their houses , furtively peeping
fromic their windows nt the unwonted opeC
taclo provided by French soldiers rldimmg
through their streets. The last ( line French-
tacit swaggered about Muttig In uniform
the arsenal of today was the palace of a
bishop.
I.e l3rcton did not forget to station cay-
airy vcdettes on all the approaches to the
town. Nothing of moment occurreil until
2 o'clock. At that hour a chassemir came
riding hard to report that a. troop train
was discharging an Infantry regiment on
the further side of a gorge about a mile
distant , where the jmimietion line from Stras-
burg and Sat'erne crossed a ttmrbulemit
stream. .
The viaduct had hieen blown up long before -
fore sad time French officer in charge of
the outpost had souL him to gIve the earliest
warnIng of this hostile move.
Another scout , anti yet another , arrived ,
breathless with the news timat traIn after
train , obvIously sent from Strasburg , was
bringing infantry , with horses amid guns ,
( lint the Germmmmm skirmnisiiers had crtissed
the torrent , driving time F'remich vedettemi before -
fore them , anti timat a temporary bridge was
in process of comistriietiomm from the ruins of
the viaduct for the passage of gumis and
horses ,
it ivail possible mit this moment for ho
l3rcton to retreat toward time Vosgcs , witii
the hope of fahing Iii with Dauhlssomi's re-
Ilef extieditloul. iJut he hatl promised Mont-
saloy to 'ait for him until 4 oeiok. it was
now 2:30. : Iii cmi hour anti forty minutes
Mutzig would lie stmrrormmided by fresh antI
infuriated opponents. ThIs , tImemi , was the
close of the brilliant raid ! That miight lie
and his gallant comaratles must be killed iii
battle or shot in squads afterward ,
lie knew vcll that qtmnrter would not be
given to a solItary officer or nine once time
Germans hind timemu iii timeir power.
It was hard to ho caught like a rat in a
trap nt the irccise instant when there did
eeeai to bo seine chance of .scnIie ,
There , toward time vest , lay the immioccu-
pied road across the Vosges to Lumieviilc' ,
but not a sign from time eUst of Momitsaloy's
return.
Le Lireton aimmuiarizctl the maddemiing
situation in a few words of emmiphutic cohlo-
quint French , anti set himself to examninhmig
time defemises.
Unfortunately his zealous men had already
destroyed every piece of modern ordnance ,
with all the amnuiutiitiomi , in time town. Soon
a German battery , umideterretl by a steady
long range fire from the walls , was laborl-
ously hauled into position emi a cliff barely
three-quarters of ft mIle distnnt , amid time
eager gunners hardly gave themselves time
to align one 12-potmmider before a shell
screamed through the air and struck a
house in time little market place , seiuilmig
fragments of brick and mortar in all direc-
tions.
"You bad better have remained with Dan-
bisson , " said Le llrqton grimly to F'airfax ,
wto was recuperating from his fatigue by
sitting on an empty packing box amid smek-
lag.
"Not I , " was the cheery reply. "These
chaps are afraid of you. Instead of trying
to rush the vhace forthwith they will pro-
cecd by set rule. And every mnlnuto they
hesitate is probably worth a year's life to
you. "
"AiiiI you also , monsieur. "
" 0 , no. I'm safe enough. This is too big
a thing for the Times to miss it. 1 must
get through , somehow. "
"I like your spirit , my friend , " saltl time
general , "But pray , make no mistake ,
These Germans will spare no one attached
to this party. "
"General , " said the other , lighting a fresh
cigar. "I mcamm to leave Mutzig tonight
with an escort of French sabers. "
Fairfax was undoubtedly sanguine. Mut-
zig was at that moment uadergoumig a hailstorm -
storm of lead. Bullets swept through time
streets from time neighboring hmeigimts anti a
couple of shells from the battery having
smashed the defenses of the northern gate
the gunners were adding to the fusillade by
salvoes of shrapnel.
Lo Breton's orders to his men were to
seek all possible shelter and confine thorn-
selves to strictly uhefensive tactics , so the
casualty list was not large ,
At last ( be inadequacy of the reply from
the town encoumraged the attackers , who
were momentarily increasing in strength. to
attempt a rush at time dismantled guite. But
if the Frenchmen were caged their ciawa
were still sharp.
The machine guns , drawn up at an effect-
lye angle , quickly cleared time gate anti Its
approaches , end the Bavarian regiment thnt
hail ussayed the charge left sumcont ! killed
and wouiitieul on their ixitlm to form two coma-
panics when they retired ,
This sharp repulse showed tIme Germans
that time assault would not 1)0 time easy mnnt-
( or they haul assumed. A change of tactics
was necessary. The town must be completely -
pletely Bmirroilfldotl and a plummgimig fire from
all sides would ampitily render It untenable ,
Amiotimer battery arrived ama ] startt'tl at. a
gallop to a lolflt whelm comumiandeti ( lie
south. The guns were unlimbered and their
first batch of shells hurtled through tile
streets before a burst. of cimeers from tJtj
defenders on that side made known to their
comrades time welcome fact that timis cciv
enemy bad becim somehow disconcerted.
Whilst time German gunners wore haiRy
correcting the ndjustmnemmt of thicir cannon
Colommei Moimtsaloy'B iirlgade eudtleniy ap.
peared over time crest of time hill amid iii a
few strides ( lie leauling squadron was in time
midst of tito battery.
No cavalry escort had been provided or
thought necessary by the Germans , so time
affaIr was over whIm the speed of a sununer
squall , The six guns end their attcmmdamits
were literally ridden dowmm.
A Gerimman infantry battalion , perceiving
time disaster , cmaumgctl ! front in order to cc-
turn the compllmnemmt to time Frm'micim cavalry ,
( nit La hirotoim , heedless of time norilmern nr-
tlhlery , rami imia machine guns mit Iimto the
open anti gave time mleploying infammtry othir'r
occmipatiofl than cmptyiitg saddles at f00
yards ,
In five minutes Montsaioy and the nimmrviv-
era of the hirigade-tlmey had met with some
trouble before ( boy finally blew ulm a lock
in ( lie cimnal-emitOrutI imutzmg.
This temaporemry success elated time troops ,
yet time most saiigmhummtu amnommgut thenmi kmmow
full well ( lint tlmere was no ctmmtmmce of i'ing
extricated. All they could do was to sell
their lives dearly.
The Germamm Ore became fiercer and more
effective. Time wretched iniiabitants of
the town suffered eveii more timnn time sol-
tiers. Shell after shell burst umnemmg tIme
iiou8eS utah set them aim fire , time flames 'iriv-
leg forum those who hail escaped fromn time
projectiles to eimcouiiter greater risk fronmi
the bullets ( list hew mm cii ilirectlomis ,
Wounded horses screamed witim pain amiui
trlgimt. The number of burning houses 1mm.
creast'tl at such a rate that eli Mutzig
seemed to lie envoiopel 1mm smoke anti simitrIcs ,
TIme still air becanme oppressively lint and
people fainiicd from timeer exhaustion amid
despair. Through this pandemonium dazed
inca antI shrieking iionicii mulct citlidremi
raced about wildly. seeking for SoniC nook
secure from time leaden shoi era , or collapsed ,
specliles soil lmorror.stricken , wimcre they
chaniecti to fall
Many thomisanmds of German infantry had
Annual 8olsmo rnorgOcfO ooo Hoses
rECRA
V PiLLS Ft
FOR DILIOUSJXND NERVOUS DIBORDflRB
tuiiehm a Wind anti 1aIn In the Iitomnnei ! ,
Oithtilnu'ss , Fmmlnos' after imiesis , ] leal- :
ache , Blaziness , ] ) rowsiness , Fiusiilnga
of heat , J.os. of Apiiotito , Costlonn'ss.
Blotches on the Skin. Colti Chub , flis-
turmoil Sloop , ] ? xighitfmil Dreams and nil
X'crvous anti Trembling Sensations.
TItfl TIRBT DO3E WILL GIVE BELIEP
IN TWENTY 1INUTES. Every sufferer
'will acknowlotigo them to ho
A WONDERFUL MEDICINE.
IIEECIE.tM'S I'h1.I.S , taken rm dtrec.
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Tue U. S
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endorse imAmt-ii1 Al
the greatest known
strcngtimcncr , invigorator -
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the generative orgaaq to
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In oitimoraoxorexeesivo use of opitimn , liquor
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Jlre You otn CaSt ?
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LEHIGH VALLEY
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_ :
WEAK MEN
instant Relief. Care In 15 dm8. Never retinas.
I wuim giadiy.enui to any ami5err tn plate M'Sird
.muclopc 1 BI1' I' prr.criptlea whim lull diree.
tion. Iv S quimCk private Cum'rfor lot ? isnhioo(1 ( ,
? VWMW.NVvWVWVW
KIdney
tieubiest once.
L &
48 Hours all
URINARY
r DISCHARGES
now reached the locality from Strashurg ,
antI mm thetermumied attache i'as mnnuic tmpomm
time two available gates , whilst fresh artil-
lacy took time place of time destroyed bat-
( ely.
Even Fairfax was hegimmning to think
tue Tinmies would miss its most enterprising
"special , ' ' vlieni a sharp rattle of immmmsketry
auii ( time deeper boommi of cnnmmon on time west
cammsetl tIme hearts of time defeimding force to
beat. with tremulous amiticlpatioim ,
Was it emily a tlevelopmcmmt of the German
assault , or commhtl it be tlmtmt Iaubissoii--
Ummccrtainty $0011 ylehileti to tommvictlon ,
Frencim guns were ermgaglmmg time nearest
German battery , disrnoimmitcd French cavalry
were driving back the wIngs of time Oernmamm
infaiitry so unexpectedly talten in flank , amid
French horsemen vero massing in squailronmi
preparatory to a imperil charge tlirougim the
entire length of time Gcrmmmami position on the
mmorthi ,
Lu hireton's eyes were affamo as lie roared
time imecessary orders to his olilcers , There
tins mme timime to ii'alt for regularity or ir
clsioii. Every maim wIlD could ride cammght
thu micarest horse niiuI ntluimg a wounded
coimiratho imp imOhiifll him , ltabhtle-llke , but
iimothmouhically encmugli for tlmeir purjrnse , the
troopers poured out of time town toward time
relieving force ,
In five lmiinutea he Brctoii was shaking
lmimnds ii'Ithm Dauhissoim antI Fairfax was hit-
lug time emid off amiethier cigar with time
equable serenity of time nmiafl who is able to
say , ' ' 1 told yomm so , ' '
Tens miminutes later the French reconnala-
sauce colmmmnn i'aH Iii ( mmli retreat toward the
Vosgeim , not forgetting to blow up every
britlge time ) ' cromust'ui inn the macelm. Time last
tuigimt of blazing ! iiutzig ermjoycd by La lIre-
toil and hits cuniradeti soils from a hiilsido
where time road enters ( lie Schmiriuseck pass ,
iyilu'iI'e they cotiid cluorly see that their
erstwlmihtu assailants had found freslj oc-
cupatlomm as amateur fIremen.
Utterly sient with time labors anti excite.
muimt of the jiast sixty hosmrs , too cxlmausteui
to cat. too weary to ovoim speak , they 'ogged '
oil thmromiglt time : migimt , aimd the streimimoums
t'rfcirtms of thcir commirimules were needeml to
kc'p mule than Imoif of them from lying
uloii'n hiy I lie rosuisid ( ' .
\'lmenover a halt was iieceastiry it was
si'Itlm difficulty time imserm were started again ,
Curiously emmomighm , time worst sufferers were
those who retained thmt'ir vitality to' thin last ,
ho hiretonm mmcii Imlit u,00IJ-miow , alas , little
Imsoro ( lien three--hail ridtlcmm numnl , 130
cubs lii sixty bmommrs timrougl ( a hmostie cnurs-
try msii'armning witim foes , 'they baui fought.
&tovt'rai severe battles ; they timid worked
like , mavvies in their tusk of destruction ;
they imati sleimi little amid value less.
limit time hilow they struck at. the German
nrnmms 'as iimcaieiilnhiiy severe ,
Aiiovu nil cio it gave Vanisittart this 0mb
great essential lie lucked ins lmlUlng his
brains mmcmi imia nioney imgainms' , ( be German
cmntioror.
'Flint' alone , to Imis view , wee whal lie
roquirotl , time to recuperate tue ( 'xhamsstel
t'uerghes of France , to arouse lien durniunt
( To be Cent in ueti