The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-22
i Has Several Times Brought Desc
latlon to tho Frontier Of.
France. s
! Border Land That Has Fur
nished . Great Deal OF
History.
Battle Ground OF Frank and Tsuton for
AEes-Where the First battle
Will Ise Waged.

FfONbl6T QHB TOE HOMO ttR0 ox0lbeu muc0
anxiety on the part OF those who are accus-
Eomed to watch the course Of European at
fairs. II il even stated that much alarm il
Felt In Germany, if tho Germans are capa-
pls of feeling alarm At anything, 1t the
nsolencs displayed by the French frontier
guards, who do not hesitate roughly to turn
back even parties Of travellers properly
provided with passports. The over-oon6-
ienos Of the French in view Of a possible
Russian alliance has inspired the German
Pmperor with the belief that they are in 10
nervous q state Of mind that at any mo-
nent an untoward incident might OCCUR
which would necsssitats . declaration Of
war. On both sides frontier garrisons have
poem strengthened, and there ID renewed
preparation for war in the arssnals and
aockyards Of both France and Germany.
! II, therefore, highly probable that the
FRANCO German border may at any time be-
poms the scene Of another deadly conflict.
The frontier of France has furnished
moro history than any other portion Of con-
raj Europe. For ages ii has been m IN
certain. and almost constantly changeable
inc. As at present constituted, the south
Ixtremity Of the French frontier begins ri
Mentone on the Mediterranean, and follows
arbitrary line TO the north for = short
kiatance, thon turns abruptly to the east,
hen along the range Of the Alps, in an ir-
Fegular line trendinR northward, turning
asst at Mont Cenis to La Levanna, then di-
|ectlT north through Mont Blanc, which il
hot, as many persons suppose, says q writer
d the 81. Louis Globe Democrat. in Switz-
Irland, but many miles to the south, and
lirectly between Italy and France. From
Mont Blanc the line passes on northward
Q tho Swiss frontier, turns slightly to the
vest at Geneva and follows tho Jura range
o . point directly south Of Belfort. whore
CROSSES the valley to the Vosges moun
aims, which it follows to a point near Nam
es. There the natural boundary termi-
inc toward the north, west to tho frontier
t Luxembourg. thence along the Belgian
boundary to the sea near Dunkirk.
The southern half Of the French frontier,
lefsnded by the Alps, the mountains of
switzerland, and by tho Jura and Vosges
anges, ID well protected against hostile in
Easion and there is little to be apprehended
rom an enemy approaching in that quarter.
Hannibal and Napoleon might traverse the
Alps, but it is not likely that modern AZ
abroad connection between Italy and
France, through the Mont Cents tun.
nel, could DO easily destroyed, and
other means OF communication are not suf.
iciently ample to Justify alarm in France
" the prospect Of an invasion from Italy o.
! Ffench army pouring down from thu
passes of the Alps. On the west frontier
nothing is to be feared, a. the Swiss viii
not allow the passage of an army from Ger.
many or Italy through their territory into
France, nor is it likely that Holland and
Belgium will permit the Germans to march
through or the French to pass and thu
take Germany in the rear. Small az arr
the two maritime states just mentioned and
the little mountainous country which fol
500 years has preserved lts independence
against the rest of Europe, their auton-
omy has been guaranteed by all the
powers, and non would suffer an intsrna.
tional outrage such as the violation Of neu-
trial territory. 4
The chief interest, therefore, in the prob
able conflict between France and Germany
centers in about 200 miles of frontier terri
tory between Switzerland and Luxembourg.
AT least one-half Of this is naturally pro-
tected By rivers or mountain ranges but
the remainder is merely an artificial bound
AIRY mutually agreed upon and watched by
both with constant vigilance. It ia natural
to suppose that along this unprotected ter
kitory will be the first conflict. Al to the
number and strength Of the frontier fort
ressss on either side not much Is really
known. Travellers are not allowed to visit
The wayfarer to be seen making sketchef
pr taking photographs. More than one I'M
ucky German, Frenchman, or American
while innocently amusing himself will
sketching the ines of frontier earthworkf
n connection with a landscape which hi
deemed worthy Of his pencil has beer
arrested as a spy and hurried off II
a military prison to await a tedious de
tention and uncertain release. Il is, how
ever, impossible to prevent some facts from
leaking ont, and among them the fact tina
between the Swiss frontier and the Jura the
great fortress Of Belfort preventsa passage
while further to the north the mountain
passes and open country are guarded BY
1 melville, Nantes and Verdun, while on the
German side Strassburg and Metz; particu-
larly the latter, the scene OF the disgrace 81
a French marshal, mount guard. the ONT
in the south, on the Rhine, tho other in til,
north, on the Moselle. Both fortressel
have been greatly extended since the Wal
In which they were acquired, and a doubl,
line OF railroad, constructed from thu
heart of the German empire across thu
mountains mp the Moselle valley to Metz
will enable = force Of 1000 600 men to bt
thrown into that fortress within forty
eight hours. On both sides of the lin,
there are other fortresses, in fact, many o
them. though how many is not to be ascer
tanned, md outsiders are equally ipnoran'
az to the particulars Of their strength, gum
and garrison. W
The region ID one that will repay the TIM
md inconvenience of an explo alton from
md to end. On the French side il tn,
department of Jura. with its half French