Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-14

soon settled this effort at resistance. Tho
sappers crossed the trench and tore the
lronwork Of the gate into pieces with dyna-
mite. whereupon the Germans surrendered
with discretion.
Whilst this busy work was in progress
Colonel Montsaloy and his brigade again
struck of across country on a four miles
ride to Obernat. where a railway and q main
road intersected each other.
In Mutzlg the FrenChmen speedily dis
mantled the small arms factory. The terri
fed townspeople, unable to escape into the
country and fearful OF the destruction now
being wrecked upon a colossal scale, re-
malned in their houses, ~furtively peeping
from their windows at the unwonted spec
tacle provided by French soldiers riding
through their streets. The last time French
men swaggered about Mutzig in uniform
the arsenal of today was the palace OF a
bishop.
lie Breton did not forget to station cav
airy vedettes on all the approaches to the
town. Nothing OF moment occurred until
2 o'clock. At that hour a chasseur came
riding hard to report that a troop train
was discharging an infantry regiment on
the further side OF a gorge about a mile
distant, where the junction line from Stras-
burg and Saverne crossed a turbulent
stream.
The viaduot had been blown up long be-
fore and the French officer in charge of
the outpost had sent him to give the earliest
warming OF this hostile move.
Another scout, and yet another, arrived,
breathless with the news that train after
train, obviously sent from Strasburg, was
bringing infantry, with horses and guns,
that the German ~skirmishers had crossed
the torrent. driving the French vedettes be-
fore them, and that a temporary bridge was
In process OF construction from the ruins of
the viaduct for the passage of guns and
horses.
II was possible at this moment for lie
Breton to retreat toward the Nosges. with
the hope of falling in with Daubisson's re-
lief expedition. But he had promised Mont
saloy to wait for him until 4 o'clock. 1t was
now 2:3O. In an hour and forty minutes
Mutzig would be surrounded by fresh and
Infatuated opponents. This. then, was the
close OF the brilliant raid! That night he
and his gallant comrades must be killed in
battle or shot in squads afterward.
He knew well that quarter would not be
given to a solitary officer or man once the
Germans had them in their power.
1t was hard to be caught like a rat in a
trap at the precise instant when there did
seem to be some chance of escape.
There, toward the west, lay the unoccu-
pied road across the Vosges to Luneville,
but not a sign from the east OF Montsaioys
return.
LIE Breton summarized the maddening
situation in q few words of emphatic colo
ouial French. and set himself to examining
tho defenses.
unfortunately his jealous men had already
destroyed every piece of modern ordnance,
with all the ammunition, In the town. Soon
a German battery, undeterred by a steady
long range fire from the walls, was labori-
ously hauled into position on a cliff barely
three-quarters of q mile distant, and the
eager gunners hardly gave themselves time
} to align one 12-pounder before a shell
screamed through the air and struck a
house In the little market place, sending
: fragments of brick and mortar in all direc-
tions.
} You had better have remained with Dau-
r bisson,' said LIE Breton grimly to Fairfax,
4 VINO was recuperating from his fatigue by
3 sitting on an empty packing box and smok-
ing.
Not t. was the CHEEKY reply. These
! chaps are afraid Of you. Instead of trying
to rush tho place forthwith they will pro-
! coed by set rule. And every minute they
hesitate is probably worth a years life to
you"
3 And you also, monsieur"
r 90, no. I'm safe enough. This is too big
a thing for the Times to miss it. ] must
i get through, somehow"
II like your spirit, my friend" said the
: general. "But pray, make no mistake.
. These Germans will spare no one attached
D to this party"
o General" said the other, lighting a fresh
. cigar. II mean to leave Mutzig tonight
with an escort of French sabers."
Fairfax was undoubtedly sanguine. Nut
. zig was at that moment undergoing a hail
a storm Of lead. Bullets swept through the
d streets from the neighboring heights and 6
q couple Of shells from the battery having
e smashed the defenses of the northern gate
: the gunners were adding to the fusillade by
y salvoes Of Shrapnel.
LIE Breton's orders to his men were tC
seek all possible shelter and confne them
selves to strictly defensive tactics, so the
q casualty list was not large.
At last the inadequacy of the reply from
d the town encouraged the attackers, whit
n were momentarily increasing in strength, tt
y attempt a rush at the dismantled gate. Blu
IL the Frenchmen were Gagged their claw.
were still sharp.
The machine guns, drawn up at an effect
W i've angle. quickly cleared the gate and it,
approaches, and the Bavarlan regiment tina
k had essayed the charge left sufficient KILLED
and wounded on their path to form two com
q panies when they retired.
This sharp repulse showed the Germans
al that the assault would not be the easy mat
ter they had assumed. A change of tactics
was necessary. The town must be com
ID pletely surrounded and a plunging fire from
III all sides would rapidly render 1t untenable
Another battery arrived and started at
ID gallop to a point which commanded tn
south. The guns were unlimbered and thei
first batch of shells hurtled through tn
streets before a burst Of cheers from tn
defenders on that side made known to thei
n comrades the welcome fact that this new
N enemy had been somehow disconnected.
Whilst the German gunners were bus!
correcting the adjustment of their cannon
Is Colonel Montsaloy's brigade suddenly ap
peared over the crest OF the hill and in
s. few strides the leading squadron was in tn
midst of the battery.
No cavalry escort had been provided o.
lr thought necessary by the Germans, so tn
in affair was over with the speed of a summer
I'd squall. The six guns and their attendant
eff were literally ridden down.
A German infantry battalion, perceivint
H. ai,aatar cbonua1 frnnt in order IN re