New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-19
FRENCH CHECK FOE
ON BELFORT ROUTE
ST. Die, in Vosges Region,
and Upper Alsace Again
See Hard Fighting.
GERMANS BRING UP
HEAVY SIEGE GUNS
Attack on Fortress Evidently in
ProSpect-Colmar- Muelhausen
Railway Line Cut.


At the Battle Front, Oct is (via
Paris What in previous wars would
lave been called great battles were
fought to-day on the eastern wing Of
the fighting line, stretching from the
Belgian coast to Switzerland. In this
great battle Of nations, however, these
fights are regarded merely as incl
dents. The lighting always has been
Of the most fierce nature in this dis
trict, on account of the strenuous ef-
forts of the Germans to obtain pos
session Of the stronsg fortresscs of
Nerdun, Toul and Epinal. in order to
open a way from Metz into France.
Saine-Die, on the Meurthe, thirty
two miles northeast Of Epinal, was the
centre of to-day's attacks, which re-
suited in a repulse for the Germans,
with heavy casualties. The borders of
both Alsace and Lorraine also felt the
shock Of battle and in the Vosges the
famous French Alpins regiments were
in contact with German columns.
These mountaineers continually keep
the Germans busy by utilizing their
remarkable mountain guns and bathing
their efforts to drive them out.
Their greatest achievement in the
recent operations was the cutting OF
railroad communication between Col
mar, capital of Upper Alsace, and
Muelhausen, thereby increasing the
difficulties Of the Germans in sending
their wounded TO the rear and in
bringing up supplies.
Mortars Bound for BelfOrt.
The Germans have brought up 10
inch mortars in this district, sup
posedly for an intended eventual siege
of Belfort In view of this possibility
the French have renewed their attacks
from the south and again advanced be-
yond Atkirch. A great part of the
theatre of operations in Southern Al
SAGE is illuminated at night by forest
fires along the Swiss frontier, caused
by shells falling across the border.
Along the intrenched line, where the
armies have been face to face for sew
eral weeks, nothing beyond desultory
bombardment occurred to-day; but
farther north, on the western wing,
where the German efforts TO break the
Allies line have been unsuccessful, the
fighting still continues.
During a dense fog, which overhung
the battle lines, hindering operations
on both sides, a section Of French in
fantry recently made dash on the
Germans on the Somme River, sur
prised the men in the trenches, and
their first line with the |
bayonet.
The Frenchmen pursued their ad- !
but fell into the hands Of a
reserve battalion Of German infantry
who captured all of them. The fog
thickened and prevented the Germans /
from moving, and they formed hoi-
low square around the prisoners and !
stacked their arms TO await the clear !
ing Of the atmosphere.
Capture Their CaptOrs.
The Germans then bivouacked and /
absolute silence reigned for some time
Then there rang out from among the 1
prisoners, ITO the guns, comrades"
Every Frenchman thereupon rose and F.
rushed TO the stacks of guns, the butts /
, (which could be seen beneath the fog. 7.
The German commander and a dozen /
men who were standing guard tried to .
resist the French, but fell under their /
own bayonets, and the entire German /
battalion, dazed by the onslaught, sur .
rendered The French took them back (
10 the French lines after the fog lifted. /
On another part of the line where ,
500 Germans were we'll burrowed in .
quarters the French general called for .
800 Turco volunteers. During the night .
the Algerians, discarding their rifles, /
crept in with bayonets between their |
teeth and surprised the Germans, of 4
whom only eight escaped.
The number Of spies in the war zone /
seems undiminished, and there are fire. /
quent executions of them, particularly
in the east. Recently German colonel /
and captain appeared in French camp !
dressed in uniforms of French pri- |
Yates. They said they had been sepa-
rated from their regiment, and request
ed TO be permitted to serve ut the
front in another command. They re-
piled to all questions put TO them
accent, and their identity was
revealed only when they claimed TO
know the commander of the regiment
to which they had applied for service.
They said they had seen the com
mander at a certain place, but the COM
mander not having been there, the
spies we're forced to admit that they
were German officers. They were shot.