The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-10-08
GEN. FRENCH TELLS HOW BRITONS
HAVE FACED GIANT GERMAN GUNS

colossal expenditure of ammunition
which has been wasted.
by this 1t is not implied that their
artillery fire is not good. 1t is more
than good-it is excellent. But the
British soldier is a difficult person to
impress or depress, even by immense
shells filled with a high explosive,
which detonate with terrific violence
and form craters large enough to act
as graves for five horses.
Scoff at German Shells.
The German howitzer 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, 1t seems, likely to throw out the
calculations based on loss OF morale
SO carefully framed by the German
military philosophers.
"A considerable amount of informa.
ton has been cleaned from prisoners.
II has been gathered that our bonn
bardment on the fifteenth produced a
great impression. The opinion also is
reported that our infantry makes such
good use of the ground that the Ger.
man companies are decimateA by cur
rife fire before the soldier can be
seen.
From an official diary captured by
the First army corps 1t appears that
one of the German corps contains an
extraordinary mixture of units. II the
composition of the other corps is sim
liar 1t may be assumed that the pres.
emit efficiency of the enemy's forces is
in no way comparable with what Il
was when the war commenced.
Germans Lose Many Officers.
''The losses in officers are noted as
having been especially severe. A bri,
gade is stated to be commanded by a
major; some companies OF foot guards
by one-year volunteers. while after the
battle of Montmirail one regiment lost
fifty-hve out of sixty officers.
The prisoners recently captured ap
preciate the fact that the march on
Paris has failed, and that their forces
are retreating. but state that he OBJ
ject 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 endeavorinR
to encourage the troops by telling
them that they will be at home by
Christmas. A large number OF the
men believe that they are beaten.
Among the items Of news are the
following: Recently a pilot and OBJ
server of the Royal Flying corps were
forced by a breakage in their aero
plane to descend in the enemy's lines
The pilot managed TO pancake his ma
chine down to earth and the two es
capped into some thick underground IL
the woods.
THE enemy came up and seized and
smashed the machine. but did mo-
search for our men with much zeal
The latter lay hid till dark and ther
found their way to the Aisne, across
which they swan, reaching camp II
safety but barefooteA.
Numerous floatins bridges have BY
now been thrown across the Aisne anC
some OF the permanent bridges hav,
been repaired under fire. On th'
twentieth Lieutenant (name deletedl
OF Third signal corps. Royal Engineers
was unfortunately drowned while at
tempting TO swim across the rivei
with a cable in order to open up fresi
telegraph communication on the north
Telephone Aid to Spies.
Espionage is still carried on by th'
enemy TO u considerable extent. Re
Gently the suspicious OF some OF th'
French troops were aroused by com
ing across a farm from which this
horses had been removed. After SONS
| search they discovered a telephone
which was connected by an under
| ground cable with the German lines
and the owner OF the farm paid tbs
penalty in the usual way in war foi
| his treachery.
After some cases OF village fight
ing, which occurred earlier in the war
Il was reported by some OF our offi
GERS that the Germans had attempted
10 approach 10 close quarters by fore
| ing prisoners TO march In front o
them. The Germans have recently re
| peAted the same trick on a large
scale against the French. as In showf
BY the copy OF an order issued by IN.
French officials. II is therein referre,
| to as a ruse. but II that term can b
accepted II Is a distinctly Illegal ruse
Charges Tricks 20 Germans.
During a recent night attack th'
| order reads. the Germans drove a col
umn OF French prisoners in front o
them. This action IL 10 be brought Il
| the notice OF all our troops. % II
| order 10 put them on their Ruart
against such a dastardly ruse, 81 II
order that every soldier may know
how the Germans treat their prison
srF. Our troops MUG; not forget tina
1 n they allow themselves 20 be tskei
1 prisoners the Germans will not fai
| 10 expose them 10 French bullets
Further evidence has nov been col
/ lected Of the misuse OF the white nai
and other signs Of surrender
During recent fighting. alec. GeI
man ambulance wagons advanced IL
/ order 20 collect the W0ansea- An 81
1 der 20 cease Gre vas consequently Eiy
en- 20 oar guns. which we're hF1nE oi
This uartfcuiur section Of ground. Til