The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-28
French Officers From
Front Tell How Por-
ton of German Lines
Was Taken
INVISIBLE GUNS
ASSIST IN WORK
spray Bursting Projectiles Over Ger
man Trenches in Wide Belt-Lat-
ter Are Captured by French In
fantry in Bayonet Charge

Paris, Oct 81, 1890 P. M.-This is
how portion of the German lines
northeast of Ypres was taken yesterday
according to officers who have arrived
IN Paris from the battle line:
A series of light 4gun, 3-inch field
batteries, each invisible from the front
were disposed behind the natural cover
of undulations in the fields, bits of
wood, ruined farm houses or dry ra.
vines.
The guns, working to their full ca.
pacity of four shells to the minute
sprayed bursting proiectiles over the
German trenches in a wide belt before
over and just behind the carefully dug
and rooted field works that is the usual
thing with the adversaries. The Ger
man infantry, as long as they kept in,
side of the covered trenches, were Sc
cure, except from the chance of shells
falling directly through the narrow
space left For rifle and machine gun fire.
German Reserves Caught Unawares
The French infantry, from the rear
of their own line of trenches, got up
as if for the usual run for the German
lines. The French guns at a moment
Germans, supposing the usual charging
rush was coming, ordered up their re-
serve infantry. who were held outside
of the shell zone, TO support the slender
lines in their trenches.
The French infantry, although firing
heavily, did not charge. The French
artillery changed their range aud at a
signal by telephone from the French
trenches caught the German reserves
coming on the run one thousand yards
behind Their works with shattering
shell fire, which broke down formations
and seemed to bring down third of
the men in the line. They simply could
not advance through the section of
bursting shells.
French Capture the Trenches
The French infantry then charged
and won their way through the fire
from the German trenches. which they
took with the bayonet.
The pushing OF the Germans out of
France opposite Nancy yesterday and
the establishing of French positions in
side the German frontier is regarded as
an important achievement at this june
ture, proving that the allies are capable
of carrying the var into the enemy s
country while holding the invading
army in check in the north
The "blue devils, - as the Germans
call the French light infantry operating
in the Vosges, again justified the terror
in which they are held by the enemy.
They led the final rush which forced
the last of the Germans out of French
Lorraine. These troops hesitate at no
sacrifice to gain an end. The second
battalion, emulating the first battalion,
which took the first flag from the Ger
mans. held the vantage ground gained.
despite great losses.
Every Gulcn a Death Trap
Ths seems tC end for the time being
the long effor against the unfortified
town of Nancy. the defense of which
has proved a great surprise to the Ger
mans. In the absence of strong forts
they found ber;re them what is more
effective in this war--feld works. All
through the foothills of the Vosges ev-
cry thicket helched fire, every knoll was
little fortress. every gulch a death
trap and rhe Germans left there the
flower Of the Imperial Guard
Further west Oh the great front the
Germans treated the French to new
kind of surprise. While an artillery