Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-09-26

even by immense shells filled with a
high explosive, which detonate with ter
rifle violence and form craters large
enough TO act as graves for five horses.
shells Called Jack johnson.
1.-THE German howtzer shells are from
eight to nine inches in caliber and on
impact they send up columns of greasy
black smoke. On account of this they are
irreverently dubbed coal boxes black
marias' or Jack Johnsons' by the soldiers.
Men who take things in this spirit
are. it seems likely to throw out the
calculations based on loss of morale so
carefully framed by the German military
philosophers.
"a considerable amount OF information
has been cleaned from prisoners. 1t has
been gathered that our bombardment on
September Is produced an impression.
Opinion was also produced that our In
fantry always makes such good use of
the ground that the German companies
are decimnated by our rifle fire before
the soldiers can be seen.
From an official diary captured by the
First army corps It appears that one OF
the German corps contains an extraor-
binary mixture OF units. If the compost
ton OF the other corps is similar 1t may
be assumed that the present efficiency OF
tho enemy's forces is in no way COM
parabIe with what IL was when the war
commenced.
The losses in officers are noted as
having been especially severe. brigade
is stated to be commanded by major;
some of the companies of foot guards by
one-year volunteers, while after the battle
of Montmirail one regiment lost fifty-five
out of sixty officers.
Germans Lose Heart.
THE prisoners recently captured appre-
ciate the fact that the march on Paris
has failed and that their forces are re-
treating, but state that the object of this
movement is explained by the officers as
being TO withdraw into closer touch with
the supports which have stayed too far
in the rear.
The officers are also endeavoring to
encourage the troops by telling them that
they will be at home by Christmas. A
large number of men believe that they
are beaten.
Following lie an extract from one doc
ument: with the English troops We
have great difficulties. They have a
queer way of causing losses to the enemy.
They make good trenches, in which they
wait patiently; they carefully measure
the ranges for their rifle fire and they
open a truly hellish fire on the unsus-
pecting cavalry. This was the reason
that we had such heavy losses.
According to our officers, the Eng
fish striking forces are exhausted; the
English people really never wanted war
From another source: The English
are very brave and fight to the last man.
one Of our companies has lost 100 men
out OF 240
View of German officer.
The following letter, which refers 20
the fighting on the Aisne, has been
printed and circulated to the troops;
Letter found on German officer of
Seventh Reserve corps: 'Cerny. south of
Laon, September I7.-My Dear Parents:
Our corps has the task OF holding the
heights south OF Cerny in all circum-
stances tin the Fourteenth corps on our
left flank cat grip the enemy's flank
on our right are other corps, We are
fighting with the English guards. High
landers and Zouaves. The losses on both
sides have been enormous. For the most
part this is due TO the too brilliant
French artillery.
90 The English are marvelously trained
r. making use Of ground. one never sees
them AMI one is constantly under fire
The French airmen perform wonderful
feats. We cannot get rid Of them. AsI