Happily, these apprehensions proved to be groundless. About 400,000 soldiers were mobilized and position which was one of a number forming a second line of defence, at positions selected by the General Staff, each covering a point of strategic importance, especially in regard to the railways. Hauenstein is 3,500 ft. above sen level, but that time was well below the snow line, about 6,000 ft. in August, and the soldiers were thus under favourable condi He were blasting operations on a big scale taking place. The sound of the explosions greatly alarmed people about the country side, giving them the idea that battles were in' pro gress. At first, rough defences were hastily put up, and then followed the construction of the solid rock and concrete trenches, situated generally near the summit of some steep declivity and consequently of great defensive strength. This se: cond line.of defence was completed by the end of October, and all immediate danger having passed, the second reserve was then dismissed.
The third line of defence consists of the fortresses constructed at points from fifteen to twenty miles inside the frontier, and these manned by the second reserve, which also provided as accasi arose detachments to relieve men absent from the front lines on fur-
Jough or sick leave.
The number of men on active has been greatly reduced, never less than 150,000.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.