Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-14

The remainder followed, but the move
ment had barely started when the rem
nant of the advance guard fell back, closely
pursued by some mounted German gun
ners with a mass of infantry pressing on
behind.
But LIE Breton's turn had come. The
| great advantage of the machine gun is
that its fire Is as destructive by night as
by day, once the position of the enemy is
clearly defined.
In this case all that was needed was
to align the guns along a comparatively
level road and blaze away. the four pour
ing an absolute torrent of lead into the
mixed German force.
Nothing could live against 1t. The pur-
suers, unable to retreat with sufficient ra-
pidity, owing to the crowding and con-
fusion behind, suffered frightfully. Hun
dreds 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 all haz-
ards a flank attack on the new line OF ad-
vance.
1t must be remembered that the German
officers were wholly ignorant of the true
position and consequently unable to make
better disposition for assaulting this mar
velous foe who had sprung from nowhere.
And he disappeared as promptly as he
had arrived, leaving murderous tokens of
his visit in the human handle Just be-
yond the village, while Q series Of ex-
plosions in the distance told the listeners
that wherever the road crossed a stream
the bridge was destroyed.
Two miles from Fontoy lie Breton Or
dered a much needed halt.
1t was now o'clock. There was no i'm
mediate fear of pursuit or efficiently Or
ganized resistance, though the German staff
at Damvilliers and Thionviile, Metz and
Mare la Tour. were frenzied with annoy
ance at their inability to discover exactly
what was going on.
Orderlies raced about on horseback, field
telegraphs clicked necessarily, even the en-
peror at Fresnes was walked out Of a sound
sleep-but IN vain. The incompatible Ger
man system of intelligence, which would
have discovered a stray horse at any poinI
over their fifty miles of front, was power.
less to locate LIE Breton and his little host
for the simple reason that he was now many
miles In the rear of the main body and hat
already much disarTanged the whole of tn,
northerly communications
Until daybreak he was comparatively safe
Horses were picketed, some food hastil!
eaten and the whole force composed itsel
for four hours sleep.
Beyond ascertaining that his total losse
30 far amounted to sixty-seven men AM
three officers killed and wounded, with som
hundred odd horses lost, he had no fresl
anxieties TO deal with. His route was GU
and dried and every detail settled In consul
tatlon with his officers. Events must b
dealt with as they arrived. They could no
be anticipated.
80 far" growled lie Breton as he com
posed himself to rest with his saddle fla
for a pillow, II don't think Vansittart him
self could have done better
The first beams OF light found the littl
force making its toilet after a fashion de
scribed by the regimental wag of tn
Eighteenth as a la mode CHEN. A heart
shake and a vigorous stretch. followed b
a breakfast OF timed beef, biscuit and
drink OF wine from the stock of a locs
cabaret, formed the preliminary to an event
= full day.
Whilst all hands were busy saddllng Il
the general called to him the second 1
command, Colonel Montsaloy, a slight, act
;. i've cavalry officer, whose cheek bones, chiI
shoulders and elbows were all based on
o well known proposition of Euclid affectin
0 the properties OF a right angle,
"Montsaloy.'' he said, give me you
S map"
= The other produced his military chart an
u lie Breton traced a line on 1t, u ha,
been thinking out the situation during II
: last half hour he said. "and have decide
= on an important alternative. My origini
y intention was. as you know, TO pass soutl
n ward behind Metz, leaving IL on my RICH
That holds good. but If we want TO ayo
the certainty OF being cut to pieces befoI
d the evening We must create a diyersio
They will look for US at first between Me
and the frontier, Well, they must find "
d and a brigade there"
II understand you fully, general"
Good. You will proceed by way OF Brie
p CONTAINS. Mars la Tour and Verny 10 Dieuz
70 II YOU can get there by 5 o'clock l W