meanwhile established
well-protected trenches and, with an excellent telephone system, made
any surprise movement impossible.

The company's rations were now becoming very low. Delirious cries of
the wounded added to the discomfiture of the men. The following
morning a German patrol tried to take the position by storm, and some
of the men succeeded even in mounting the parapet. These were driven
off by a quick firer which had been captured from the Germans. On
other advancing troops of the enemy huge boulders, dug from the
hillside, were rolled down and we succeeded in dispersing the attack.

Another attack was prepared by us for that night, but the danger was
great on account of the narrowness of the position occupied by the
company. The captain of the company was ordered to light fires at the
opposite ends of his position, so that our artillery could better
regulate its fire, as there was great danger of killing our own men.

The artillery opened a crushing fire, and the Germans began to
retreat. As they passed the company's position their men were mowed
down by the exactness of the fire of our troops, and finally the brave
company was delivered.

The general in command of the army in the Vosges said, in
complimenting the men for their bravery, the company henceforth should
be called "Company Sid Ibrahim."

[Illustration: Battle line in the Vosges, July 20]

BATTLE OF FONTENELLE

_The official French "Eyewitness" at the front reported on July 18
giving details of the French success in the battle of Fontenelle, in
the Vosges. The scene of the conflict is in the neighborhood of the
village of Senones and the forest of Ormont, and the ground is
described as undulating and cut by deep ravines._

_It was in this region, says the observer, that the Germans, after the
battle of the Marne, look up a position on a summit commanding the
surrounding countryside. This hill was Height 627, which is known as
Fontenelle._

On June 22, after severe losses, the enemy succeeded in occupying
Fontenelle, says the observer. Although we counter-attacked
vigorously, taking 142 prisoners, the enemy held the summit. General
Van Kuderzen, in a report dated July 3, said that after a careful
inspection of the German works and trenches he finally believed that
the hill had been transformed into an impregnable fortress, and that
its capture would necessitate tremendous losses.

On July 8 all necessary preparations for the attack had