Gilpin observer., 1915-07-08


in use In the French trenches. At
first sight l thought 1t was silver
mounted flute, for it looks like flute
more than anything else. Instead Of
looking through the flute" lengthwise
you look though it "sidewise." and in
1t you see mirrored the rough line
which shows the outer edge Of the Gerl
man intrenchments, but you don't see
any Germans unless you watch care
fully for long time. Then you see
q little movement perhaps and then
a rifle at your right or left speaks;
and then you know that possibly there
is dead or a wounded man in the
trench you see to your front.
The next day from rock rising al
most sheer to height Of nearly seven
hundred feet l looked through the
clear air toward Metz, the capital OF
German Lorraine, which with its cir.
cling fortresses is the prize most GOV;
eted by the French. The artillery OF
the republic emplaced on ridge to
the right and a little in advance OF
this position has succeeded in reach
ing with its shells one of the most
formidable forts standing guard over
Metz. When the French break down,
If they can break down, the defenses
Of Metz, an army will spring from the
ground and advance toward the Ger
man goal Of it's ambition. Metz. how
ever. while really only few miles
away, is long ways off, because be-
tween the outermost F.ench lines and
the city of desire lies German army.
and right here on this line within
the next few days or weeks, or per-
haps even months, there is sure to
come fighting of quality so fierce as
to put all other fighting along this
5O0-mile line into the class with things
tame.
Views the Battlefield.
From where l stood there is BIRDS
eye view of great battlefield. We
made an early start in order to be
able to climb this needle-like rock be-
fore the sun was high. This hill Is
called Mousson, and on its crown
there is a chapel built In the eleventh
century and which ahords fair and
commanding mark for tho enemy's ar
tillery. The Germans for some rea-
son or other have left this pinnacle
alone for the main ,art
In climbing the hill Of Mousson
there are many places where one is
out from under cover. Walking up the
hill was ifficult, but running was more
than difficult, and yet had to run be-
tween the covered points. On this
hill we were within range, not only OF
shell fire but of small rife fire. and
the journey up and down had its un-
pleasant moments.
When halfway down this Rock OF
Mousson the cannonading grew louder.
The truth was that new battery had
opened. one much nearer to us than
the guns which had been laundering
before. We looked down from the hill
side to the village OF Pont-a-Mousson
which lay nesting at our feet Into
the village the shells were pounding.
All that we could see was clouds Of
dust and smoke mingled as we knew
with mortar. stone fragments. and
the ground powder Of plaster.
Short Breathing Space.
We reached the foot of the hill. en-
tered military autCHoDlle, and were
whirled into Pont-a-Mousson. The
cannonading had ceased and the vii
layers, men. women and children.
again going about the streets. No
one knew. however, when the fusillade
would begin again. 1t did begin
again, not long after we left the town,
and 20 people met their death inside
of an hour from the time the first
gun spoke.
Pont-a Mourson is not far from Metz.
The same river supplies water to both
| cities One is in France and the 9TH
er is In Germany. The French say
that before the snow flies again both
cities will be IL France and that both
will belong to France for all time |
do not know whether this will prove
true or not. but l 10 know that all
along this line the French are fight.
ing with doubly strengthened heart,
and perhaps with a doubly strength.
ened ferocity. They want Lorraine.
and Lorraine they are going to get II
valor can win 1t.