The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-09-26
MOUNTAIN VA,
SUITS AMERICANS
Fighting on the Heights Of Al
SAGE Is Like That Done BY
Their Forefathers.
BY. FRANK J.. TAYLOR.
United Press Staff Corresnoadsnt.


With the Americans in Alsace-Lor-
raine-(by mail)-American soldiers
are becoming mountaineers of Alpine
skill UP in the heights Of Alsace, where
they are holding long stretches of tine
line. They measure the line in three
ways in Alsace, as the crow flies, hori-
zontally and vertically. AS the crow
flies the line across Alsace is compar-
atively short. with the horizontal
twists north and south. east and west,
II ID longer, but when the vertical
measurement is made up and dOwH
the mountain sides, this Alsatian line
becomes
with facility. They like fighting in
the mountain peaks because it Is in
dividual and calls for ingenuity as we'll
as courage. Some of the peaks On
which they are opposing the Germans
are over 1000 feet high. 1t is always
covered peaks. The lines run up and
down these peaks and through forests
so dense that only constant vigilance
prevents ambush parties. The Amert-
cans have shown a peculiar adaptA.
bility to this warfare. which 10 nearer
the type their forefathers waged in
America than any other phase Of tho
great war.
You get to the American positions
only after crossing high ridges along
which ran the French German bOun-
Diary before the war. Then you drop
abruptly down the German side OF the
ridges into Alsatian towns where tho
natives speak German as well a.
French, but deny that the former IL
German.
ITS not German. but Alsatian," they
tell Q firmly, w don't speak boehe."
Ruf the Garpnan Won 1oa rnod In ChNOI
enables o to converse freely with
them. -Nst
| The little Alsatian villages are clean
i and distinctly different from those
over the line in France. Signs every
| where are written in both German and
French. and in many places English
| has been added, out of courtesy to n
| Americans who go through to the lines
up the mountain sides. Alsatian archi-
lecture adds attractive gables to the
! houses, which are more often surround
| ed by attractive yards and lawns than
one finds in strictly French France.
Down in a little town on the road to
Thanh, a place buried between two
towering ridges, o stop for lunch.
The woman in charge speaks German
and Is not displeased at finding you
speak 1t too, so long as you do not cali
IL German and agree that the language
IS Alsatian, not German. She assures
you 1t is a bad day. a meatless day in
France, and there is not much to eat.
But you may have what they have, n
says, il you will but wait. Then, while
you anticipate III with little else, her
German speaking assistants bring on
four courses Of meat, ggs and Asa
tian cake for dessert, more than you
can find anywhere in France
THE Americans must eat we'll by us,
for they will win Alsace back to
France" she tells you, by way OF ex-
PLANTATION.
The outstanding feature Of the Iine
in Alsace Is the system Of stronghofds
and observation posts which take the
place OF a continuous line for both
sides. There is a line Of barbed wire.
| which the Germans have attempted to
electrify in some places running the
length Of Alsace, up and down. and
through the pine and fir forests ~
through meadows colored with flowers.
Streams and waterfalls and all tho
mean at the disposal Of nature tend
to hide the ravages OF war.
I'm these mountains you at length
find the Americans learning the mean
which both the allies and the Germans
have come to use to wage war here.
I and devising new ways OF fighting.
| Around mountain peaks s~trOngholds in
woods or in rocks are built from which
patrols operate usually In force through
the woods. These patrols cross No
Mans Land often without knowing II.
Tt Is comparatively easy to penetrate
the line here. but 1t is harder to get
back undetected. owing to density OF
vegetation.
IT Is an artillery warfare in his area,
Big guns operate on strong points and
villages from the rear, and little noun
tain artillery CUR do the close range
work. Machine guns play across from
both sides, fairly well hidden in woods.
Into this the Americans are introduce
Ing % more aggressive element, con-
slant patrol raids.
From observation posts the dough-
boy a see German positions for
miles. and farther back can see Ger
man towns. On clear days he can SEQ
through the glasses every train that
enters some of the cities, and can count
The people on the streets. 1t puts one
'dea into the average ~doughboy's head.
Just let us loose and put some more
Americans in here with us. and Wen
take those towns" said n of them.
We could get them before the Ger
mans know we're started" That 10
an optimistic idea, but it is not an idle
boast.
Back in the towns and secluded
spots less subject TO bombardment YOU
lind still more doughboys, fresh from
the states, eager to get into the noun
famous trenches and hold a few feet
Of the long line now assigned to the
Americans. The doughboys went in
u vi VIII tiS "a "N hh''' Det
were soon given their own sectors.
Farther dow the line to the north
west, in Lorraine. the problem is much
the same, except that the MOUNTAINS
are less steep. Here il is hills the
%onahhoys hold. and in nlfsDerouss
rLac.-: the younger torests have been
wiped out by artillery fIe from bCta
sides, leaving a d. snitely formed No
Mans Land, which is usually well cop-
troiled by the Americans. As you ap-
proach the Vosges area he battle linz
again crosses back into France, ANA
il is again a war of defense.
Americans in Alsace consider them
selves lucky TO he where they ara
This is the best part of France we
have seem" said one intelligent dough-
boy, and others echoed his sentimental
mo wonder the Germans wanted tn
steal the country. But Wen run thscA
out in time il they'll+jus let us CO.
THE SPEED OF DOGS.