[Illustration: AboveA company of American infantry enjoying a well-earned rest after capturing the German second-line trenches in the forest of Argonne, the scene of desperate and protracted fighting in the fall of 1918.

Another German army from the direction of Longwy, under the command of the Crown Prince, was operating through Suippes and on the wooded Argonne plateau, with its five passes, famous in the action of which preceded the battle of Valmy.

The great plain of the Argonne is full of most wonderful ecclesiastical buildings and many magnificent cathedrals, townhalls and ancient fortresses were passed by the warring armies in their advance and withdrawal, some of these historic structures sustaining irreparable damage.

Beyond are the downs and heaths of Epernay, Rheims and Champagne, while the heights of Argonne stand out boldly in the distance.

IN THE GERMAN TRENCHES A correspondent with the German army who visited the firing line in the Argonne forest late in November, by special permission of the German crown prince, described the conditions in the trenches as follows: "Here in the now famous Argonne forestthe scene of some of the war's most desperate fightingthe Germans are trenching and mining their way forward, literally yard by yard.

Of these about 750,000 were in the Argonne section, on the French front.

During the second stage of the Argonne operation a captured German major, while in casual conversation with an American officer said: "We know defeat is inevitable.

Jan. 8Roumania mobilizes 750,000 men; violent fighting in the Argonne.

July 13Germans defeated in the Argonne.

Oct. 7Americans capture hills around Argonne.

"When Hindenburg announces a new victory we are happy; when our front in the Argonne advances we are satisfied; when our faithful Landsturm beats back a French attack in the Vosges, it awakes a pleasurable pride in our breasts.

Throngs of women and children from the filthy villages of the Argonne and the Ardennes gather round our field-kitchens and regularly receive the remains of the meals; while many a German Landsturm man, recollecting his own wife and children, fills the mouths of dirty French children instead of completely satisfying his own hunger.

Our heavy batteries are placed on the slopes of the Argonne forest, while the light field-howitzers occupy the summits.

"Bang!" went Babson's gavel just as Mr. Tutt was leading Mr. Walsh, Mr. Tompkins and the others through the winding paths of the Argonne forests with tin helmets on their heads in the struggle for liberty.

Here the two youths won fresh laurels, and both were well on the way to be recognized "aces" by the time Pershing's army succeeded in fighting its way through the nests of machine-gun traps that infested the great Argonne Forest.

During the weeks that the Americans were battling in the great Argonne Forest the two Air Service Boys had contributed to the best of their ability to each daily drive.

On the following morning the advance was resumed, the same tactics being employed that had met with such success all through the Argonne.

Of all the old friendships that had once surrounded Clerambault, one only remained, his friendship with Madame Mairet, whose husband had been killed in the Argonne.

Or again it is a Tommy learning to appreciate the heroism of a French peasant woman: 'Er bloke's out scrappin' with the rest, Pushin' a bay'net in Argonne; She wears 'is photo on 'er breast, "Mon Jean," she sezthe French for John.

" The spirit of it runs through the narrative of a French infantryman who described an action in the Argonne, where his regiment held a village heavily attacked by the enemy.

Woodfill of the regulars; a true story of adventure from the Arctic to the Argonne, by Lowell Thomas.

Woodfill of the regulars; a true story of adventure from the Arctic to the Argonne, by Lowell Thomas.

He was killed at Argonne.

ARGONNE`, FOREST OF, "a long strip of rocky mountain and wild wood" in the NE. of France, within the borders of which the Duke of Brunswick was outwitted by Dumouriez in 1792.

That was the Argonne, where the Crown Prince was busily getting rid of a few thousands of his father's faithful subjects in order to secure himself the reversion of his father's throne.