New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-29
Hartmans-W eilerkopf Sc,
cured by Calamity OF
Alpine Chasseurs.
ATTACKERS MET
WITH BURNING OIL
French Army Now Commands
Secure Position on Its
Extreme Right.
LIZ Cahl. 70 The Tribune. J

Paris. March 2S.-Owing to the great
Ionotb Of front and the dominating IN
terest Of the military situation on the
AIlios' extreme left it is likely that the
inheritance of the victory obralned
during the last few days in Ha1te Al
SAGE will be overlooked.
The capture of the heights OF
Uartmans- Weilerkopf, which was DEN
nitely established yesterday, IS eH-
tremely valuable. For many months
this strategical position has been the
scene Of desperate fighting command
inr the whole district OF Thanr Ger
nav and Stenbach. French ana Ter
man troops have struggled repeatedly
for its possession, ard the tide oil
hattie mas ebbed and flowed upon us
,purs and crests, leaving in it' wake
awful tolls Of dead and wounded.
II is here that many of the most
heroic EXPLOITS of the French soldiers
have been achieved, for the character
Of the fighting allowed more scope lor
Individual gallantry and the personal
craft of war than in the siege "orA Vi
intrenched positions.
Alpine Chasseurs Heroic.
It is to the Alpine Chasceurs, the
blue devils of France" as they arc
called because of their blue bonnets
and hunters dress, that the success OF
the final attack last week Is due. Last
Tuesday. after a tremendous artillery
Fro thew assaulted and took the hrst
line of the enemy's position IN a spIeh-
did rush, regardless of their own
losses. On the following day they Sc,
cured the second line. and ciimDed
bicher toward the summit, in spite OF
The stubborn defence Of the enemy,
who fought with great courage ana
swept the hillside with devastating
rifle fire. , r.,
Hand-to-hand fighting took place Tor
eovoral hours. but "the blue devils
had the best of it and made many prlS-
rners. The great assault, however was
still 70 come on the crest of Hartmans-
Weilerkopf. LIPS metres above the
Main. The main body of the German
troops. belonging TO the famous l2tn
Corns. held its ground with rmlda,,
ble number Of guns. and every method
known to German warfare was Used TO
thrust back those blue bonnets surglng
IN in ridges. Hand grenades were
hurled down from the heights and
burning liquid came in streams from
trenches dug in the hilsides.
Fighting in Charred Clothes.
So many chasseurs were badly
burned. though they continued to night
in their charred clothes, that the order
had been given that the hill was to be
taken at all costs, and they have be-
haved during these last three days
with splendid devotion, which it is un-
Gerstood is to be fully recognized in
the official dispatch which vii mar
rate one of the most heroic chapters
in this war.
The French Tricolor now floats on
the summit of Observation-Disclosures,
and Yesterday the Alpines swarmed
forward to the flank of the hill on the
northeast and southeast, dislodging the
enemy from his last grip on the strong
hold which is the natural keep OF the
broad plain below.
1t is victory which gives the French
army a secure position in this part Of
the front and proves the spirit Of the
French offensive which is soon to be
| revealed all along the line.