Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-14

evening Tell, 10 gain the SneiteT OF n uenle
in the vosges mountains. So tired were
many OF the troopers that they slept as they
rode, and at the earliest possible moment lie
Breton halted to enable them to recuperate
somewhat.
Toward midnight the unpleasant inquisi-
tiveness OF the enemy's cavalry scouts forced
the French commander to once more arouse
his WORKOUT followers. For two hours they
logged steadily inward through rocky wall
leys. shrouded in gloom by the frowning
heights. Then lie Breton decided that, come
what might, his men and horses should have
a thorough rest, else they would be alb
s~olutely untitled for the stern work of the
following day.
The Germans, of course, we're now on the
alert throughout the whole OF their southern
lines of connection.
The emperor sent bitter and scathing tele-
grams to the generals Of division at Forbach
and Sarrelbourg for having allowed the
quarry to slip through their hands, and the
latter unfortunate officer was summary de-
graded in rank.
The headquarters staff felt certain, from
the latest details 10 hand, that he French
marauders would cndeaNor to regain the
shelter Of their comr ades' entrcnchei camp
at Luneville; imperative orders were in
consequence given for q powerful force to
, gather in the neighborhcod Of Avrtcourt
and Belmont In orlur to cut them up when
they appeared.
And cut up they assuredly must have
r been had they tried to force this passage
at any time after daybreak on Friday morn
ing. Every hilltop was lined with scouts,
every road and possible outlet crowned with
furious German troops. longing for the OPP
portunity Of revenging the insults heaped
upon their arms, and the frightful havoc
dOnp IN thpir nrnnn,iratiNn Inv tbio tn
trepid body of horse.
Hour after hour the Germans waited.
eagerly securing the eastern horizon for
the first signs of their approaching enemies.
At last they were reused into frenzied ac-
tivity. The enemy had indeed arrived, but
from a wholly unexpected quarter.
General Daubisson, in person, leading a
strong reconnaissance of cavalry and horse
artillery from Luneville, was now forcing
a passage through the new rear of the Ger
man invaders. OF this more anon.
At 8 o'clock on a bright May morning
LIE Breton and his brigadiers rode along
the ranks of their gallant followers, ad-
dressing words of encouragement and good
cheer to the men.
The general had resolved upon the ex-
%ecution of one last bold coup before the
final dash was made for liberty and Fr1pce.
There, five miles away, on the other side
of the Shirmeck pass, Law the little town
of Mutzig, a great depot and mandatory
Of small arms and ammunition, but now,
he learned from the peasants, denuded of
defenders save some hundreds Of busily &C.
cupied workmen, most OF whom were Sc
cretly enthusiastic Alsatians.
Fifteen miles further east the Rhine flowed
between vine-clad cliffs and In the inter
vening country were the main lines of rail.
wav batweap Strashnrp md CO1mar fvr
branch lines, the Rhine canal and two mair
roads north and south.
To ruin Mutzig and it's stores and destroy
the t~horoughfares by rail, road and water
would indeed provide a glorious finale tt
the most remarkable achievement evel
carried through by so small a force In
country held by such armies as owned thu
sway of the kaiser.
IS LIE Breton made no secret Of his desper
ate enterprise and his men acclaimed hin
as he told them what he wanted them to do
g. After all they had already accomplished
under his guidance they would have fol
~ lowed him in an attack upon Metz itself
J. The column had crossed the top Of tn,
lie pass when the rear guard saw through theiI
glasses a solitary horseman squirting flu
s, riously after them. He was batless. dressed
a in civilian attire and obviously alone
Id They waited in silence until he drew near
to When they halted him he explained. wit
m an unmistakable British accent, that h
was one of the war correspondents of til,
lg Times and asked to be brought before tn
lie general.
ly This newcomer was in strange plight
His clothes were torn and shot through il
ar several places. Along his right cheek
ry bullet had torn a slight furrow which ha
no nevertheless bled profusely and rendere
at him a sorry object. His horse, a fin
ed hunter, was in the last stage Of exhaus
ny ton and barely able to support himself b
en- propping out his forelegs when the myste
2 rious rider dismounted. The man, toe
en- though strongly built and hard looking
of was clearly suffering from hunger an
ed fatigue.
be Yet his manner was perfectly calm an
the French soldiers marveled whence O
at how he had reached them, whilst the
r noted. with silent appreciation, that his frs
a thought was for his horse, in whose behal
he he obtained a pail of water and some foot
he The officer he addressed did not kno'
n. how to deal with this apparition, so b
e. promptly acceded to his request and too
tic him to the general.
of Whom have we here?" was LIE Breton
hit first question.
lis The Englishman produced his oflci;
pass, signed by Villeneuve and Daubissol
setting fOrth tnat ne was MT. Herbert FAN
In fax, war correspondent of the Times an
as fully accredited to accompany the Frenc
nd armies in the field.
But how is this?" cried the astounde
tie. general. whence come you?"
ed From Luneville. i left last night In az
nd vance Of General Daubisson's column
Column! What column, monsieur"
nd "a cavalry reconnaissance in force, whic
ort by this time is breaking through the Germa
front at st. Die"
lot with what object?"
ise I'm order to ascertain your whereabou
nd and assist you If possible"
ais "Diable, It's well. Yet how could Daubi
son guess my position so accurately"
he 1T was hardly a guess. Mr.. VansittaI
informed from England and Belgium of yol
he progress, estimated that you would be
this neighborhood today, and probably hal
VS. pressed, SO he asked the commander in chi
nd to try and help you"
ar Monsieur. you bring good news. Neve
The theless. i an at a loss to know by VIII
cir means you have reached me-"
80, l just started and here l am"
ing by st. Denis, / see you, but my brazil
fuI do not travel SO quickly as my eyes. He