Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-10-25

lux Ut liNt- minute lnttiN'tfs - 80
terry of them. dug into the ground SO
that only the gun muzzles projected
above the pits. WAS observed In action
at distant OF about half mile. the
flash OF flame being visible even at
that distance
Guns seen In Action.
Their smaller sisters we're less coy
A dismounted battery OF the interme-
date ealiber, details OF which are no.
for publication, was encountered ny
the roadside. awaiting repairs TO the
heavy traction engine In whose tram
1t travels IN sections along the coun-
try roads, while the German SN Inch
t2l -centimeter) and the Austrian IL
inch t30.5-centimeter) batteries were
seen IN action.
The heavy German battery lay
snugly hid in a wood on the rolling
heights of the Cote Lorraine. Better
off than the French, whose avlatofs
had for four days repeatedly scruu-
nized every acre Of land ia the vicinity
looking for these guns, we had fairly
accurate directions how to find the
battery hut even then II required some
search aud doubling back and forth
before Il langlid cannonler lounging
10y the roadside. pointed with thumb
over shoulder toward the hidden guns.
Protected From Spies.
These and the artillerymen were
enjoying their midday rest. pause
which set in every day with the regu-
lafity of the luncheon hour in fac
tory The guns. two IN this particu-
lar position, stood beneath screen of
thlckly branching trees, the muzzles
toward round openings IN
this leafy roof. The gun carriages
were screened with branches. The
shelter tents of the men and the house
of the ammunition also had been COW
cred with green and around the posi-
ton hedge Of boughs kept off the
prying eyes of possible french spies
through the woods
II was the noon pause. but the lieut.
tenant in charge of the guns, anxious
to show them off to advantage, vol
10 telephone the battery
in his observation post
four miles nearer the enemy, for per-
mission to fire a shot or two against
a village in which French troops were
for the attack. This battery
just had finished with Les Paroches.
a French barrier fort across the
Mouse, and was devotIng its attention
to such minor tasks.
Only Three Lives Lost.
Only forts really counted, said the
lieutenant, recalling Fort Manonvi-
liers. near Luneville, the strongest
French, barrier fort. which was the
battery's bag of the war. Its cap
ture, thanks TO his guns, had cost the
German army only three lives, those
of three pioneers accidentally killed
by the first of their own men. Now
Les Paroches was a heap of crumbled
earth and stone. In default Of forts
the guns were used against any
worthy target" worthy target
being defined as a minimum OF fifty
infantrymen.
AT this moment the orderly report
ed that the battery commander au-
thorized two shots against the village
in question. At command the gun
crew sprang to their posts about the
mortar, which was already adjusted
for its target little less tnan six NILES
away, the gun muzzle pointing SIX
ward at an angle of about sixty g.
grees AS the gun was fired the pro-
iectile could be seen and followed in
its course for several hundred feet
The report was not excessively loud
Sees Loading Process.
Before the report died away the
crew was busy as bees about the gun.
One man with the hand elevatins
gear rapidly eIanked the barrel down
to level position ready for loading
A second threw open the breeeh and
extracted the brass cartridge case,
carefully wiping 1t out before deposit
ing 1t among the emptles. four more
seized the heavy shell and lifted II to
a cradle opposite the breech a sew
enth rammed ii home; number eight
gingerly inserted the brass cartridge,
half fined with vasaline like explo-
sive the breech was closed, and the
gun pointer rapidly cranked the gun
again into position In less than thirty
seconds the men sprang back from
the gun, again loaded and aimed.
Village Bursts into Flames.
A short wait and the observer from
his post near the village ordered,
next shot, fifty meters nearer The
gun pointer made the slight correc-
ton necessary. the mortar again sent
its she'll hurrying through the air
against the village which this time, II
was learned, broke into flames and
while the men went back to their
MONDAY rest the lieutenant explained
the fine points of his beloved guns.
One man. as had been seen, could
the elevation gear with
one hand easily and quickly; ten OF
his horses could take the mortar,
eight tons, anywhere; II
could fire up to 500 shots per day.
lie was proud OF the skilful conceal
ment of his guns. which had been
firing for four days from the same
position without being discovered; al
though French aviators had located
the sister batteries, all of which hao
suffered loss from shrapnel fire
Rude Crosses Everywhere.
Along the roadside through Cote
Lorraine, were here and there graves
with rude crosses and penciled in
seriptions. At the western edge of the
forest the battle panorama OF the
Meuse valley suddenly opened out,
the hills falling away again steeply TO
the level valley bed. The towns be-