the Teutons from the eastern
slopes. The Germans were temporarily successful, but their success was
short-lived, for the French retook the top on April 28, 1915. During
the next month, May, both sides made claims of success; but what each
actually possessed was as follows: The French had the top and all of
the western portion; the Germans possessed the summit ridge, and the
east and northeast portions. But, until the French held the entire
mountain, they could make little use of it in controlling the Ill
Valley.

The fighting in the other part of the Vosges had to do principally
with the valley of the Fecht. The stream runs from Schlucht and
Bramont east, and proceeds past Muenster and Metzeral. On its right
bank is the railroad from Colmar to Metzeral. The heights in the upper
part of the valley were held by the Chasseurs Alpins; and they desired
to take both towns. Throughout the month of April the French were
fairly successful on both banks of the river. The spur above Metzeral
to the northwest was taken by them. The ridge between the two valleys
was captured by the French on April 17, 1915. The fighting here was
continued throughout May, 1915.

The next scene of activity was north, where there was a wooded plateau
between the Moselle and the Meuse. Here the Germans had a salient
which was long and quite narrow. The point of this salient was at St.
Mihiel, the other side of the Meuse. This point was well protected by
the artillery at Camp des Romains, which controlled the section for
ten miles in any direction. To the north of the salient there was a
railroad from Etain to Metz. There was another line twenty miles to
the south. This ran from Metz to Thiaucourt by the Rupt de Mad. The
village of Vigneulles was about in the center of the narrow part of
the salient, and on the road to St. Mihiel. There was a better road to
the south through Apremont. A strategic railroad had been built from
Thiaucourt by Vigneulles to St. Mihiel, down the Gap of Spada, which
is an opening between the hills of the Meuse Valley. The plateau of
Les Eparges is north of Vigneulles. The plateau is approximately 1,000
feet above the sea level, and forms the eastern border of the heights
of the Meuse. There was high land on the southern side of the salient,
along which ran the main road from Commercy to Pont-a-Mousson. Within
the salient the land was rough and, to a considerable extent, covered
with wood.

The French did not plan to make an