New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10
Foes Exchange Mail
Gypsy's Music Furnishes Di-
version of Visit to Mog-
lene Trenches
BY GORDON GORDON.SMITH

he employs are concerned.
Ny visit was TO one Of the highest
crests in the Moglene range. Il lies
five miles or so away, just opposite the
village in which the division am with
has its headquarters. The road at the
base of the mountain lies across a level
plain. As it is nearly the whole way
under the fire Of the Bulgarian bat
teries, it has to be negotiated with
prudence.
We had TO string out n hundred yards
or so apart, so as not TO draw the Bull
garian fire. Shells are too precious to
be wasted on single riders, but if the
Bulgarians saw a chance of bagginS
half a dozen with a single shot they
might be tempted. | stopped for half
an hour to take a cup Of coffee with
the officers of the heavy battery at the
base Of the mountain, who informed me
that the enemy had only been firing
in desultory way all day, more to
make acte de presence than to DO real
damage. They were probably husband
ing their ammunition, ready to inter
vene when the attack, which they knew
was impending. should begin.
The importance to the Bulgarians OF
their positions is great, as they can
fire right up the valley which sepa-
rates the Serbian positions from the
mountain on which the Bulgarians are
intrenched, so that any attempt by the
Serbs TO advance their infantry across
the valley to attack will bring it under
a cross fire. as well as a front fire.
4 Pass Danger in Darkness
After riding across the plain with,
ant mishap we reached the village OF
Bachovo, where we were to pass the
night. or at least part Of it. We start
/ ed up the mountain slope at a. m
/ SO as to pass the danger zone IN DARK
ness. In the village were a company
/ or so in reserve, the transport service
and an ambulance.
Nv American companion and ] were
received with the large-hearted hospl-
talitv characteristic Of the Serbs. Our
quarters were the first floor of peas,
ant house. The furniture consisted oil
a wooden table and half dozen empty
| boxes. which served as seats for the
officers mess. In the corner was sack
ing stuffed with straw, on which we
were to sleep.
The only light was single sputter-
I ing candle. as il is inadvlsaOle To Sno"
/ unnecessary illumination IN village
only 500 yards as the crow flies from
I tho batteries on the enemy mountain
/ summit. After dinner we had the IN
/ expcctcd treat Of concert by the COOK
Of the company. who is a virtuoso on the
accordion and gypsy violinist. The ser
! HAN gypsies are famous for their skill
I on the violin, but our man exceeded all
| had ever heard from them. lie was
kind of Serbian Kubelik. In add
ton he possessed one Of the sweetest
/ tenor voices have ever heard.
II was a curious experience TO hear
tbia music proceeding from the dark
ness tthe part Of the room In which
tbev played was absolutely without
liqht). while from without one could
hear the continuous rattle OF infantry
fire on the mountain tops and the du.l
boom Of the heavy battery in the val
low keeuinc up an artillery duel with
the Bulgarian guns mile ABOVE our
heads. the shells whizzing audibly
above the roof.
Gypsies Learn American Songs
Their programme was eclectic IN the
extreme. After the famous aria from
"Cavalleria Rusticana,' sung by the
gvpsv with the yirtuoslte OF de
Rcszke, they gave US "Pere la vac,
toire." By Louis Came, couple oil
marvellously beautiful Serbian volK-
lieder. and wound up with the ineyita-
HE "Tipperary." I added to their
repertoire by teaching. them "John
Browns Body" and Marching
Through Georgia which they Played
faultlessly after | had hummed over
the melody to them one time
The concert proved so attractive
that we only got two and a nan hours
sleep before remountlng our horses
for the mountain climb. There was a
brilliant moon, which lit up the WIND
ing road. cut by the Serbians, winch
zigzags up the face or the mountain
IN and up we went, Starting deep
precipices. till after an hours ride we
reached the point where we had -
leave our horses and make our way oy
e,oatpaths through the trees and
brushwood which line the upper
clones The climb was a stif one and
vas not rendered any easier by the
bovIirg gale that was sweeping
tbrougb the trees. We did not even
dare to light cigarette Tor Year OIL
drawing the fire of the batteries on the
rocky citadel above. =,
During the whole time the rattle OF
,,reketry from the Serbian and Bull
e.arian trenches never ceased for an
instant But during the latter hall o.
the night the Bulgarian guns were 81
lon. Occasionally the heavy battery
an the plain below would hurl shell
or two at the Bulgarian positions. We
could see the fash OF the explosion
n thousand yards or so away. ana
could hear the splintering or the
rocky cliffs under its impact.
Inst before dawn we reached the
ducout of the colonel commanding the
regiment holding the mountain. After
welcome cup Of hot tea | went oug
18th him 70 visit the observation post
fror which we could view the Bul-
,arian positions, which | examined
,vi.b n periscope, as IL was dangerous
~ IN ones head an inch above the
.rorrow opening through which we
Locked. The periscope had three bull
iat holes in il. which had been rough
iv nlugged with cork. II bore evidence
70 the skill OF the Bulgarian snipers.
Fusillade Dies Down
wa. somewhat surprised 10 note
.ba. The fusillade which had been go /
;nC on all night had now died down
conpletely. The colonel gave me the J
evnlanation. The trenches are eo deep
and are so we'll guarded that they can