New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-11
STEINBACH FIGHT
HARDEST OF WAR
ReoccupaiiOn by French
Marks Progress on the
Atsatian Frontier.
fny cable 10 The Tribune J

Eastern France. Jan. i0.-With the
re-oecupation of Steinbach. lost on the
eve of the general advance started on
December II, satisfactory progress on
the Alsatian frontier is TO be record
ed. Both sides laid great stress on
its possession for sentimental as wen
ss strategic reasons. With the village
in their hands. Thanh. where the
French have set up the first judicial
tribunal in "New France was practl-
callv safe from bombardment In the
hands of Germans the French might
be made to look ridiculous by setting
I'M an administrative government m
effectively in the occupied area.
The battle for its recovery has been
one Of the most desperate of the war
Although the column operating from
Thanh was intrusted with the task OF
its recaD.ure, two other columns, ad-
vancing respectively on Burnhaupt and
Altkirch. materially assisted the en-
terprise. if only by keeping the Ger
m.ns employed over vide area. IL
WAS Christmas Eve when real offensive
action commenced. with terrific ar
tillerv duel. which lasted all the next
dav. Most of the civilian inhabitants
had a sorry Christmas. They were or
6ered 10 leave their homes and were
shepherded in thousands by the Ger
mans in the direction Of Mulhouse.
The French also cleared out as many
non-combatants as possible from the
threatened regions.
In the week following Christmas the
most notable progress was made by the
column advancing toward Altkirch.
where the French artillery obtained
footing on the heights commanding the
railway approaches, and bombarded a
supplv train standing in the station.
The French also have succeeded in de-
stroying part of the permanent way.
The centre. in front Of Barnhaupt,
was inactive, but by steady pressure
the column operating 20 the north OF
Thanh was steadily gaining ground,
which promised not only the recapture
of Steinbach, but a serious menace TO
the town of Cernay.
The fate of the Germans in Stein
bach was sealed b. a brilliant feat OF
arms performed by the French. SO
long as the heights of Herrenluh re-
NAMED in the hands of the enemy even
a successful attempt TO retake the
village OF Steinbach by storm would
opl,- ha inviting al Sastpr
Bridge Shot Away.
IL was determined: therefore. to clear
these first. but the river runs between
the village and the coveted position.
In the dead Of night the army marched
out from Thann and the engineers
threw a bridge across the river, but the
watchful German, although he lay low
for a time, was perfectly well aware OF
what was going on. Suddenly his
searchlights flashed over the scene and
a we'll posted battery of 77's shot away
the bridge in the twinkling of an eye.
The Germans commenced to pepper
tho French troops with shrapnel. COM
pelling them 20 retreat, but though the
bridge was floating downstream. cord
that the engineers had got across the
river was intact and the French patrol
TO use IT to get 10 the
other side and reconnoitre the enemy's
position. They were fortunate in max
ing two German stragglers prisoners.
These were brought back and declared
that the heights were only lightly held
by infantry. with the support of bat
terry Of artillery, but that Steinbach it.
self was full of landsturm troops. The
column moved back to Thanh. repulsed
By German vigilance. but still deter