Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-09-26
MOUNTAIN WARFARE
SUITS AMERICANS
Fighting on the Heights of Al.
SAGE Is Like That Done By
Their Forefathers.
BY FRANK J. TAYLOR.
United Press Staff Correspondent.

are becoming mountaineers of Alpine
skill up in the heights of Alsace. where
they are holding long stretches of the
line. They measure the line in three
ways in AlsGce. as the crow flies, hOri-
zontally and vertically. AS HI CROW
flies the limo across Alsace is compar-
atiyely short, with the horizontal
twists north and south, east and west.
it is longer, but when the vertical
measurement is made up and Town
the mountain sides, this Alsatian line
becomes enormous.
The douEhhoys become m~ountaineers
With facility. They like fighting in
the mountain peaks because 1t is in
dividual and calls fox ingenuity as well
as courage. Some of the peaks on
which they are opposing the Germans
arc over 1000 feet high. 1t is always
cool and often cold up in the tree
covered peaks. The lines IL up and
down these peaks and through forests
so dense. that only constant vigilance
! prevents ambush parties. The Ameri-
cans nave shown "A peculiar adapta-
bility to his warfare, which Is nearer
the type their forefathers waged In
America than any other phase of the
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
! luSCS lJlS fAlSdIl1It eiS
natives. speak German as we'll as
French, but deny that the former is
German.
Its not German. but Alsatian." they
tell you firmly, I'VE don't-speak boche."
Blu the German sou learned in school
enables you to converse freely with
|. them.
The little Alsatian villages are clean
and distinctly different from those
over the line in France. Signs every
- H., k~AI tssNn "a nrN
French. and in many places English
has been added, out Of courtesy to the
Americans who go through to the lines
up the mountain sides. Alsatian archi-
lecture adds attractive gables to the
houses, which arc more often surround
ed by attractive yards n lawns n a.
one finds in strictly French France.
Down in "a little town on the road to
Thanh. a place buried two
towering ridges. o stop for lunch.
The woman in charge speaks German
ard'i is not displeased at finding you
speak II too. no long as you do not call
it German and agree that the Language
Is Alsatian, not German. SHE
you it is u bad day. IL meatless day In
France, and there Is not much ITO eat.
says.'if you will but visit. Then, while
you. anticipate eggs with little elise, her
German speaking assistants bring on
o courses OF meat, eggs. and Asa
tian cake for dessert, more than you
can find anywhere in France.
"The Americans must eat well by US.
for they will win AEace back to
France she tells you. by way OF ex-
PLANTATION.
The outstanding feature Of the line
In Alsace is the system Of strotgholds
and observation posts which a 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. W and down, and
through the pine and Fir forests or
through meadows colored with flowers.
Streams and waterfalls and all the
means at the disposal of nature tend
to hid the ravages OF war.
In these mountains you at length
find the Americans learning The means
which both the allies and the Germans
have come to use to wage war here.
n devising new ways of fighting.
Around mountain peaks strongholds in
woods or in rocks are built from which
patrols operate usuall.- in force through
the woods. These patrols cross No
Mans Land often without knowing it.
1t is comparatively easy TO penetrate
the line here, but it is harder to get
back undetected. owing to density Of
vegetation.
1t is an artillery warfare in this area.
Big guns operate on strong points and
villages from the rear, and little noun
tain artillery guns do the close range
work. Machine guns play across from
both sides, fairly well hidden in woods.
Into this the Americans are Introduce
ing a more aggressive element. con-
slant patrol raids
From observation posts the dough,
boy can see German positions for
miles, and farther back can see Ger
man towns. On clear days he can see
through the glasses every train that
enters some OF the cities, and can count
the people on the streets. 1t puts one
idea int the average d%oughboy's head.
Just let us loose and put some more
.Anericans in here with u.s., and well
take those towns" said one Of them.
we could get them before the Ger
!, mans know we're started" That ID
an optimistic idea, but It is not an idle
boast.
Back in he towns and secluded
spots less subject to bOmbardment you
!, ttind still. more dOughboys, fresh from
J the states, eager to get into tho noun
famous trenches? and hold a faw feet
Of the long line now assigned to tbs
. Americans. The d%oughboys went IN
brigaded with the French at first, but
i, We're soon given their own sectors.
, Farther down the n to the north.
, west. in Lorraine, the problem is much
, the same. except hat the mourltaini
. are; less steep. Here it Is hills the
. doughboys hold. and in numeroui
places. the younger. forests have beer
wiped out by artillery, fire from botf
sides. leaving a definitelyS formed NJ
Mans Land. which is usually well; con
trolled by the Americans. As you ap.
rroach the VOsges area the battle lin,
? 1t is again a war Of defense.
Americans in SAlaaces cnnnidar them.