New-York tribune., 1901-09-20
SHAM BATTLE FOR THE CZAR.
WATCHING AN ARMY CORPS ASSAULT
PoSITION-NSPTRING MILITARY
SPF{sT ACIE

Conpiegae Sept 19.-Emperor Nicholas passed
day fun Of interest The morning WAS spent
IN witnessing the ~2al operations Of the grand
Ue<te-n mzneuT-tS, at which the Car for the
Hrst time came into contact with the French
sr1y operating under conditions and not
ncrely IN parade uniform
The troops Eere concentrated on the plain
sr0und Fort Vitry in the early morning. Oper-
a,ions began az 10 O'Clock. on the arrival Of the
Gar VINO. surrounded by French and Russian
staff officers. followed most of the movements
N horseback The Czarina and President
Loubet accompanied BY N. Waldeck- Rousseau,
The Premier. followed in carriages drawn by six
artillery horses More than once the Russian
Emperor gaIloped ahead among the soldiers and
watched their proceedings, as though desirous Of
ntsfying himself of their efficiency and value
rs fighting units
The ski-1nishing army corps early developed
an attack upon Fort Fresnes, the minor fort
The Cxar and Czarina- with NJ Loubet and
others mounted the earthworks inside and
watched whole army corps advance 10 the as
xuli- The enemy approached in heavy lines,
under cover OF the shells of their artillery, TO
which the fort responded The position was
finally carried al the point Of the bayonet- IL
wss highly theatrical operation utterly i'm
possible IN war; but carried out with the dash
Az lie EIGlCl u Aal4-DAS- oiio ~
aroused the enthusiasm of thousands Of specta-
;nx who followed the mauguyres on foot, on
oirgcAs and IN every conceivable kind Of We
tce
during the attack the incessant rattle OF mus
ket-y. the grinding and cracking OF machine
gU1f. the sharp detrlations Of quick firing field
gins and the booming Of the heavy guns OF the
1oEf made deefeaing roar. and with the thick
pz-l Of smoke lowering overhead converted the
Er-Hng plain iurD veritable Inferno
Ggnihcant incident Illustrating the anxiety
q The French not only 10 insure the Cars
SAFETY. BIT 10 avoid the slightest cause for un-
oEaeS On his part occurred during the assault
The infantry had reached the edge Of the moat
sn1 were pouring fire in.o the fort when some
o he attacking party aimed In the direction OF
Emperor Nicholas. who prominent figure
ano stood watching the vanguard sliding down
poles into the moat and fixing the scaling lad
asTz One os the generals noticed the direction
q which the rifles were pointed and. fastening
70 the scene, pushed the muzzles aside. exclaim-
ing s1ctedFy- Don't fire IN the direction OF the
Car
ihs Closing phase OF the operations when the
entire force OF 10000 men was in action. was
'leEed from an eminence near Fort Vitry- The
vaois country swarrned with soldiers. who in the
nashes burst from the nuzzles Of batteries, while
nearer were stretched lines OF infantry firing
sohey after yoley. Regiments Of dragons and
s1asseurs in light blue charged across the coun-
ay- Brass helmets and sabres glittered In the
ssss nine The ground yfbrated with thousands
~ noo1s, and the cavalry dashed to the capture
" me batteries, which quickly lirr1bered up and
.ss.,sated an full gallop. The operations con-
euoed at o'clock
"hen the Gar asked to be shown the new
srncn hel6 gun, which had never before been
o"h 10 foreigner, one OF battery Of four
&c leken 10 pieces. He examined the mechan-
- Ihe1 the gun was put together and eight
go go were fired with marvellous rapidity. In
s 1e1 70 demonstrate the absence Of recoil the
tns e Gar expressed his admiration of the aston
rr.as qualities OF the weapon
- IL worthy OF note that the Russian Emperor
t.elSc cordially with General Andre the Min
=. :. o- W ar, which was excellent Reputation
- ais assertions made by the Nationalist organs
&c lhe Car regards him as a disorganizer OF
81, rrenca army. At General Andres sugges-
80, the Car allowed himself 10 be cineuato-
w,,t - Ine Czarina also photographed him
s,s resident Loubet and the French Ministers
H., oiiIcers She took numerous snapshots
throughout the day
me President and his irr1neria1 e,,,ests reacbad
a.ifas oy carriage by O'Clock Here the party
,as,o eeo tne beautiful Gothic Cathedral After ad-
h.ie the sculptured facade which resembles q
,bu,lfui piece of lace work the Czer entered
-lnce He was met ct the porch bv Cardinal
rot'.sthleux, Archbishop of Rhe.lne in scarlet
s+.t' wno was attended by the Vicar-C;eneral
cleo N violet and surrounded by clergy The
'ai conducted the Emperor around the