The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-07
At Night Germans Use
Them to Observe the
Movement of the AL.
lied Armies
AID IN THE WORK
Night Combats Have Become an I'M
portant Element in the Action and
Are Telling on the Stamina of
Troops on Both Sides

Paris, Oct. Z, 7.O5 A. M.-Gaptive
balloons to discover and observe the
movements of the allied armies and
powerful searchlights to point out the
positions and to blind the defense dur
ing night attacks are being used by the
Germans in the great battle to the
north and east of Paris, which still is
without definite result. Military science
recently is lost sight of and the contest
becomes merely the turning forces
against one another.
Night combats have become an i'm
portant element in the. action They
are frequently forced by the Germans
and as often are repulsed by the al
lies. They are telling on the stamina
of the troops on each side, many of
whom already are worn out on the fir
ing hue IN the seemingly unending
struggle.
Element of Daring in Germans
The French public, who throughout
have shown calm are patiently await
ing a decision. The changing actions at
various points along the battle line, as
indicated by the war Office statement,
furnish opportunity for diversified
comment as to their significance.
Lieutenant Colonel Rousset. the
military critic of "La Liberte,' sees
In the latest maneuvers of the Germans
an element of daring. A large spread.
ing movement on the flank of an adj
versary, he says, can have the incon-
venience, generally grave, of enlarging
the space which exists between the
mnViun trpnDc anH thnco ba
This must necessarily have a reason
able limit under the risk of transform
ing the plan into a detached operation
simply which would be very perilous
for those executing it. Such a move
ment moreover says Lieutenant Colonel
Rousset, has hardly chance of sue
ceeding and only so when not discov-
cred which does not appear to be the
case judging from the war office state
ments.
Remarkable Method of Fighting
General Pierre Cherfols, in comment
ing on the situation, declares that the
material organization of the enemy
really is powerful and that all the
French wounded are unanimous in say
ing that the Germans have had excel
lent practical instructions and that
from a technical point of view they
fight with a remarkable method.
The Germans know, he says, how to
be patient and to wait. They realize
the ground with real art. There they
make themselves invisible and have
many gruesome surprise to the i'm
petuosity of the French. Their machine
guns are very numerous and are some
times grouped. They have one company
of machine guns per regiment. They
are always hidden, often set at the
edge of woods seeking to have an
oblique fire.
The Germans first line of march,
General Cherfils continues, are cover
ed with sheaves of corn or are well
concealed otherwise. In advance of
them are their elite marksmen. Nearly
all the French officers who lost their
lives, says the general, were killed by
these firers who always were hidden
Their junction with diverse units is
complete and the accord between the
artillery and the infantry is of per-
manent intimacy. The infantry ad-
vances only when supported by the
artillery.
If their technical supremacy is mani
fest their moral inferioritv he says,
stands out. They fight only two or
four against one and nearly always
flee in front of the bayonet.