New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-09


so long as the guns on this side kept quiet u WINS
likely that the eneriiys cannon would send only s"'S
shells here and there against the hilltop But 'h
pot bullets were more plentiful and, without drawing
snybodys fire in particular, the battery OF "hion
speak might get more than enough Of these small
visitors. Even while we strained our eyes 10 caVon
glimpse of the French and German troops little further
forward and marked how the thin film OF blush smoke
and the cracking line OF infantry advanced or receded
artilleryman in the battery fell wounded by Chasse
pot bullet close where the staff officers had gathered
Those French rifles have long range and It Is well 10
beware OF them See the gallant old colonel OF artbery
who steps up the Crown Prince to report what has
happened The report IL meant, doubt not, to suggest
O change OF position.
But the fight yonder soping ground has Intense III
teres for the commander of the beseging army. His
Hghness stands fast and looks eagerly across the inter-
yenDg fields. There they come-there come the enemy
several yards forward and the thin blush smoke is in
two very distinct lines now with steady cracking nc
meath It which seems TO flag. Well done, both
sides They keep It up like men. The lines OF smoke
have deadly meaning, for many OF the advancing
French roll upon the ground and some Germans also
seem 10 DO hurt. Well done, both sides Inc sharp
cracking fire would wiring the hearts OF those at nome
II they could hear it, How steadily the Germans hold
their own II they doing well all along the 'front.'
there need be anxiety fofhe result. Yet for mo-
ment they are borne back The French gain another strip
a few yards ia width and come more fully into Vlew
Their supports seem 70 have descended from the
crest OF the ridge behind Montret0ut and to be following
them TO the slOpng fields straight before u.s. III Is
fair chance for the Prussan The battery where we
stand opens fire with deliberate aim. "Now to the
right" Now to the LEFT" Let them have it little
higher" We can the orders given and see the next
working of the fatal tubes Four gunners are busied
with each other and the cartridges with which cannon
of this size are mere rine TO handle slipped In at
the breech like pills into pIllbox Bangl Bang How
sharply they Jingle the There go the shells to
the slopng fields acrosthe valley where the French adj
vance They cause confusion, and have an evident
effect in checking the forward movement We can per-
ceyethat several Of the enemys skrmshers have run
back to the main body.
Asevening approaches the lines OF Dlnlsh smoke are
clear the flashes Of the rifles iBut Is not dark
enough yet 10 lose sight OF the men who fire. The flashes
twnklng along the crest OF the ridge and down on
the fields below. We now see the CLEANS OF hght
from French and German cannon TO our right 'front.'
Some heavy shells fly very us and burst with
SCATTERING disagreeabe sound They not well Aimed
though things begin TO look II this active battery
where we stand had drawn too much attention TO ITSELF
Bang bang from the sharp-yoiced, toy-like four
FOUNDERS Every shot they make is OF service to the In
fantry below. The French have ceased to advance nay
more they have given ground for many yards
and are farther pack than they were at first
The fashes grow brighter, and the forms OF
the men less easy TO distinguish. Another
and another heavy shell screams up from
the French position In rear OF the fighting, and seems
more clearly than ever destined for these troublesome
Messengers have ridden TO and fro between
the Crown Princes staff and the troops engaged one
officer has gaoped away 10 order up fresh battalion
Another has come with that the advanced line Is
keeping It's assaants back. Horses have plunged and
kicked and fdgetted round in Of the battery for
they all such quiet teeds those harnessed TO the
limbers There has much interest In the work
s,oin hefo II
which scream up from below, until they grow so per-
sisent In their visits that they not TO be neglected
shell burst just in front OF the battery, and throws
mp the mud high in the air. IL does no harm but
It's arrival causes some remark TO DO made TO the
Prince His Hghness Is urged TO shift his position at
least TO one side Now that the hedpeces have drawn
the enemys fire. aud without mounting his horse which
is led round in the rear he walks elsurey past the left
OF the battery 20 spot whore line 0f infantry is shell
tered behind wall For little while longer the Prince
fingers in sight OF the nmbe gunners until darkness has
so far prevailed that there scarcely anything to he
seen but bright fash at each discharge. The hight Is
loss hoty maintained below the French have seemingly
lost heart there further advance on their part
IL has been as stirring hours work one can often
have the chance to see.
MontretOut was retaken late that night with but
slight loss to theGernans and but slight resistance by
the French and IL appeared that after their failure 10
get forward in the struggle on the l9th these last
did not care TO hold exposed position In face OF the
German teldguns. / heard that the French regiments
returned into Paris with the bands playing, early yes
terday. The prisoners whom l saw seemed Wen 1eu,
though only few close up.