The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-11-16
An Achievement to which the Ascent o
Lookout was Chfld's Play.

| An Achievement to which the Ascent of
Lookout was Child's Play.
For several years it has been known that the
French Army has been drilled and trained as it
never was before, and that If war with Ger
many should occur again the Germans would
have to meet the most skilled, most eager. aud
best-equipped foe that they have ever faced.
The development in warfare by the French in
the last 10 years has been nothing short of
wonderful, says Hdrper's Weekiy. They have
just added to their renown by performing a
leat that doubtless would have astOnished
even Napoleon with all his daring. They have
taken field artillery across the Savoy Alps,
southw west of Mont Blanc. They have reached
crests with heavy guns which hitherto only
eagles and chamos have attained. In other
words, as the French expression goes they have
tanned a mountain. .rs
There has always been fascination in read
ing of the battle among the clouds " on Look
out Mountain in our civil war. The task of
surmouuting that was child's play to THIS new
ach ievement OF the French. South of Mont
Blanc is valley through which torrent river
runs from the great glacier Of the mountain.
At the mouth of the valley is Bourg-St.-
Maurice, where troops may be massed, and
where there are heavy Notifications. An
enemy from the Aosta Valley in Italy, could
reach this valley by the Seine Pass bui il
would be useless to attempt to invade France
through which the hostile troops must pass.
There is another way to get over into France,
and that is over the Alps toward the west and
down by Roseend 10 the little hamlet of Beau
fort. from wllici there is pathway, almost i'm
passabie, down the valley of the Doron. Indi-
vidual men might get over this crest, but the
idea of taking even small cannon over it
would have seemed absurd il it hadn't been
done recently. e55ei
The flank of Mont Blanc at this place is
nearly 5000 feet high. 1t was decided by ths
French military authorities to make the trip
from the Bourg-S ST. Maurice Notifications with
field cannon to Chapeaux, where there is
small garrison.
With a prospect of victory for inspiration,
battalion of infantry. one of Alpine chas-eurs,
and a battery of artillery started from Bourg-
St.-Maurice on July 10 last. An icy rain was
falling but the troops did not falter. They
were 10 add to the glory of the army of France.
Soon they were beyond the limits for safety
for animals. 1t was impossible to go around
the flank of the mountain. With ropes and
pulleys these men, with songs and shouts of
announcement to each other. bent to their
task Of raising the guns mp the slippery nights.
Fifty men pulled on the rope for each cannon,
and at every tug each piece slowly mounted to-
ward the sky.
Obstacle after obstacle was overcome, and on
July 90 there rolled out sound over Mont
Blanc's crags aud glaciers and precipiccs that
was never heard there before. 1t was the boom
OF mighty cannon. Ii was an announcement
of achievement rather than of defiance a'd the
cheers of the soldiers meant that the French
artillery, as we'll as the infantry, had tanned
a mountain"
The next day all the cannon reached the
summit of the crest. Getting down on the
other side was more difficult than getting up.
The men and cannon had to 90 down ;he face
of slope 800 feet high. and very steep. The
work was done with ropes and pulieys, as III
going up. aud on July 81 Beaufort was reached.
Surely the French have right to be proud Of
this extraordinary achievement. They are
now able to guard their Alps at their cresfs.
They have shown splendid endurance and
shall we not say most commendable bravery :?