The daily Alaskan., 1915-07-15
Who Defended
 the Works?
By F. A. MlTCHEL

When the Germans were beseiging Paris in 1871 one part of the force came to the very outskirts of the city and encountered a portion of the de- lenses, something like a revolutionary bGrricade blocking a street. There was only room for Q single company, and Its captain before making an attack stood off and, raising pair of binocu- lars. examined the works.
 They were composed of paving stones, pieces of timber and such other articles as had been brought together for an tmprovIsed fortifcatlon. But the cap tain could not see a single man on the parapet. This he did not like. There wls the look of a trap about it. If he moved his troops forward he must do so over a distance of some 500 or GOO yards between two walls not thirty feet apart and straight as an arrow. He could not deploy his men by the flank, and us fer scattering along the street they would be one behind an- other. and a shot would bring down every man in line.
 Moreover, the captain noticed dark spot in the works, which indicated that a single stone had been removed in the very center of the fertilization. He assumed at once that the aperture was fur the muzzle of a cannon, which would sweep the street, doubtless, with tlEe, scattering projectiles of the period. That meant that before a force of eighty mcu-the number under the cap tain's command-COuldr reach the barn. Cade large proportion of them would be killed or wounded.
 The captain called his first ieuten- ant, handed him his glass, directed him to take q look at the breastworks and then asked him what he thought about an attempt to carry them. The lieuten- ant examined the works, then, lower ing his glass, remarked:
 What are the orders, captain"
 The orders are to move forward"
 Then We must move forward, but those who live will have moved back ward"
 The captains only response was an order to advance.
 Shoulder to shoulder, the men march ed on-for, as has been said, they could not Scatter-till about q third of the distance had been traversed. Then a pun of smoke issued from the dark spot in the center of the works, and storm of missiles broke upon the ad- vaucing line of Germans. A third of the company fell, and another dozen Ilmped or staggered to the rear.
 The rest pressed on, but a few min ut>s were lost in reforming, or, rather, closing, the gaps that had been made. With steady step they marched till they had covered half the distance be- tween their starting point and the fort. There was light where the dark spot had been, and they knew that the piece had been retired to be reloaded This gave them courage. It was an old fashioned muzzle loader, and time must be spent after every discharge in relOading. The captain gave the order to double quick, but before they had covered q dozen yards there came another hailstorm, and another twenty men were put out of the fight
 This was terrible slaughter, and the force reconed. Some stood ready to retrace their steps; others started back. The second lieutenant stood ill rear and, striking some of the fugitiyes with hs sword, drove them back to- ward the enemy. The captain was among the wounded and lay in pool of his own blood The first lieutenant cried at the top of his voice Forward, menw and started at the head of some thirty soldiers to make the rest of the distance and storm the fort, though the move was now a forlorn hope, for he expected that on reaching It he would find 1t defended by double the number of those who were making the attack.
 When within fifty yards of the bar riCade there came another storm or missiles. Half the Germans were laid on the stones of the street. while the other half broke and fled. The lieu tenant called to them in vain. Prefer ring death to following them in flight, he turned and ran forward to the fort, expecting every moment to be shot down. He reached the barricade and, with a pistol in one hand, bis sword in the other, climbed to the summit. There he stood, bewildered by the sight that met his view.
 Not a was behind the stones.