The Dolores star., 1914-11-06

'sS " sSseOssss SVyUuS esse
Mouse.
The French had fortified these
slopes with successive rows Of
trenches, permitting line above line OF
infantry to IRE against an advancing
enemy. For days desperate struggle
Was waged for the possession OF the
heights, which was imperative for the
German campaign against the line OF
fortresses.
The correspondent had no opportuni
~ to inspect ut close range the l6is.
Inch guns, the GROWERS OF Liege. Ma.
muir, and other fortresses, which
krupp and the German army uncoy.
cred as the surprise Of this war.
Sees Battery In Action.
Their smaller sisters were less coy.
A dismounted battery Of the inter.
mediate caliber, details OF which are
not for publication, was encountered
by the roadside awaiting repairs to the
heavy traction engine In whose train
1t travels in sections along the coun.
try roads, while the German sA.inch
t2l centimeterl and the Austrian IL.
inch 1905 eentlmeter) batteries were
seen in action.
The heavy German battery lay snug
ly hid in u wood on the rolling heights
OF the Cote Lorraine. Better of than
the French, whose aviators had for
four days repeatedly scrutinized every
acre Of land In the vicinity looking for
these guns, we had fairly accurate
directions how to find the battery, but
even then It required some search and
doubling back and forth before a Ian.
guild cannoneer, lounging by the road,
side. pointed with thumb over shoul.
der toward the hidden guns.
These and the artillerymen were en-
joing their midday rest. a pause which
sets in every day with the regularity
OF the luncheon hour In factory. The
guns, two in this particular position,
stood beneath screen OF thickly
branching trees. the muzzles pointing
toward round openings In this leafy
roof .-.--
Fires Two Exhibition Shots.
II was the noon pause, but the liett
tenant in charge Of the guns, anxious
to show them on to advantage. volun-
teered to telephone the battery com.
mander, in his observation post four
miles nearer the enemy, for permits.
sion to fire a shot or two against a
village in which French troops were
gathering for the attack. This bat
terry just had finished with Les Pa.
roches. French barrier fort across
the Meuse. and was not devoting it,
attention to such minor tasks.
Soon the orderly reported that the
battery commander authorized two
shots against the village In question
Al command the gun crew sprang t.
thsir posts about the mortar, which
was already adjusted for its target, Z
little less than sig miles away, the CUR
muzzle pointing skyward At an angle
Of about sixty degrees. A the CUR
was fired the projectile could be seer
and followed in its course for several
hundred feet.
Before the report eied away ths
crew were busy as bees about the gun
One man with the hand elevating geaI
rapidly cranked the barrels down to I
level position ready for loading.
second threw open the breech and ex
tractcd the brass cartridge case. care
fully wipinG II out before depositini
II among the empties: four NOR,
seized the heavy shell and lifted II q
cradle opposite the breech. . seventh
rammed II home; number eight gin
gerly inserted the brass cartridge. hal
nlled with . vasellnelike explosive
the breech was closed. and the guI
pointer rapidly cranked the gun agaiI
into position. In less than thirty sec
onds the men sprang hack from tn,
gun. again loaded and aimed.
Second Shot Fires Village.
A short walt and the observer from
his post near the village ordered mex
@hx.a r. MI a