The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-07
In THE FRENCH ARMY
Robert W. Chambers Describes Some
of the Latest Military Devices
FORTRESS AT MONTMEDY
A Bit OF Brilliant Description-Tne
Balloon Observation-Disclosures of
the Bicycle Corps-Dogs as
Scouts and Messengers.

Copyright. 1895. by Bachelor. Johnson &
Bachelier).
Signalling was going on from the
hills as our diligence creaked along
the highway which leaves the National
road at Chauvency.
We were in the middle of the spring
maneuvers On every hillook fiuttered
little flags. Some of the signal men
were mounted. some on foot, but the
flags wig-wagged their messages with
the same rapidity in either case.
Down IN a hollow TO our left, sur
rounded by soldiers. stood a strange
machine bearing distant resemblance
balloon from which a cable hung. The
cable was being paid out from the en-
CINE and the balloon rose gently. like
a great rosy bubble lighted up by the
rays of the setting sun. AS we looked
something white fluttered from IL, like
a bit of paper tossed i'm the wind. 1t
was a pigeon which pitched about for
q moment in the upper air currents,
and then slanting TO the west glided
away and was blotted out against the
SUMS disk.
A turn in the road brought MS to n
bridge guarded by a dozen sun burned
fantassins and further on we passed
some men of an engineer battalion dig
ging holes in a potato field. They
I'd. a
seemed to me unwarranted. the ther-
mometer being at 81 and potatoes
cheap. But our driver said they knew
their business. emphasizing his words
with "Fichtre!' as he threw his
leaders back on their launches in time
TO escape utter humiliation from a
flying battery which plunged out of n
lane at right angles to our road. Guns.
caissons. troopers. succeeded each 9TH
En of A
streak of black and scarlet. n streak of
silver. and they were gone leaving our
ears ringing and our eyes blurred.
The sun touched the horizons edge
as we galloped into the white poplar
bordered military road which leads to
Montmedy. Before us lay a curious
round hill. 1t was the fortress of Mont
medy. a solitary rock in the plain.
When our diligence rolled into the
main street OF the village. the host OF
the Lion dor came out to welcome us.
In the kitchen doorway stood an off,
Ger.
His Kept was banded with crimson
velvet. His dolman was trimmed with
astrakhan and he wore a red morocco
surgeons case slung under his elbow.
His attitude suggested absorbing in
terest in the cooking.
When / caught a glimpse of his pro-
file, / said: Does IL smell like roast
beef, Jacques?" and, pivoting on his
spurred heels. he grasped both my
hands in establishment.
He had been at the Val de race while
/ lived in the Latin quarter. and our
acquaintance had budded in the cafe
Vachette.
He told me he was attached to the
-th of the line in garrison and receiv-
ed with enthusiasm my proposal 10
visit the fortress. Ii was growing dark
when the table was ready, and we sat
down with three of his brother officers,
De k of the artillery, B. of the
Chasseurs-a Cheval.
Light the lamps, Monsieur Perron,
IL you pleased" they cried to the land
lord. and instantly, as though by mag
ic, the room was filled with a light so
white and dazzling that IL blinded me
for moment. They all laughed at
my establishment 1t was not magic,
only a coincidence. One of the power
full search lights. mounted somewhere
in the fortress over us, had been turn
ed upon our house.
Jacques intimated to the others my
desire to visit the fortress and they
agreed / should see all that any for
eigner was allowed to see. So many of