The Cordova daily times., 1917-01-15
TRAGIC SCENES IN BATTLE
 FRONT
(By Associated Press.)

(By Associated Press.)
 ON THE SUMMIT OF HART MANN N'SWEILERKOPF, Alsace, Jan 13. - Deep in snow the listening posts of the French and Germans are within few yards of each other on the slopes of the Hartmannsweilerkop with the French in possession of the dominating position. For many months this part of the front has been the quietest portion of the line, although the opposing troops are in such close touch. Sometimes days pass without a shot being fired, but just on the day when the Associated Press cor respondent visited the most advanced line daring raid was carried out by French detachment. The object order to discover the composition of the forces in front of the French DO, sitions. The exploit was accomplished so well that a party of fifteen prison CTS was brought back and not a man of the French detachment was in. jured.
 | The lines of the French and Ger mans on this height are so near to- gether that the troops occasionally en- gage in sharp battle with stones in- termingled often with hand grenades, and these encounters are interspersed by short artillery duels, which with out exception conclude by the silenc. ing of the German guns.
 The summit of the mountain, in the hands of the French since last Janu- ary, has been mentioned probably as often as any part of the line owing to the fierceness of the fighting for Its possession. It is, however, considered in prime importance from strategic point of view, although it's ownership permits the troops in occupation to see all the surrounding country. The ef feet of holding 1t is greater for the moral value than from any other con sideration.
 The correspondent was permitted to advance even beyond the front Ger man trench and was able to study at close range the system of defence in troduCed to meet conditions quite diff ferent from those prevailing at those sectors of the line where the fighting conditions of modern warfare.
 To arrive at the front line on the Hartmannsweilerkopf, a long climb up sharply winding paths has to be undertaken. Mile after mile along the steep slopes and precipices, sometimes bare and sometimes covered thickly with pines and frs brings one at least to the zone where the armies watch closely each others movements Dot ted here and there are huts and shacks and battery positions so we'll hidden that their presence is not discernible until pointed out.
 When the danger zone is reached the character of the scenery changes Much Of the summit Is clear of trees. which have been either felled or shot away. The ground is broken up by trenches and rocky heaps. Scattered about in sheltered positions are de- tachments of troops always on the alert. Some portions are exposed to direct fire from German batteries on other and lower summits of the sur rounding hills.
 When the correspondent visited the mountain in the last days of Novem. Der snow covered the ground to a depth of nearly g foot He and his companions with guides the party was made as small as possible to the risk involved made their way eau. tiously toward the front trench.
 From this point the German line could easily be distinguished, and ''A 'AS'Nhiib aHaJ ioI miIeS Ou SltHeT side could be seen the tops of the posts supporting field of barbed wire entanglements buried partly in snow, which in the bright sunshine took on a reddish color.
 In spite of the hardships brought about by the cold and wind in the hills, together with the arduous work of making roads and bringing up sup plies over the rocky hillsides, many of the officers and men have become so accustomed to their surroundings that they decline to be relieved and sent to the rear to enjoy the rare per iods of rest accorded to the fighting forces.
 The men in the front line. like their comrades at other parts of the front stretching from Switzerland to the North sea, have to content themselves with the shelter afforded by dugouts. There they keep warm by means of heavy clothing. as there is peril of lighting fires even under cover. The conformation of the ground, however. permits the approach of supply details and under most circumstances at least one hot meal daily is provided. The cold is so piercing that it has been found necessary to shorten the period of duty in the open. Even the hardy