South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-05
Fearful Losses Suffered During
Assaults Across Exposed
Places in Mass Formation
Prompt Change in Tactics.
SAPPING OPERATIONS
USED FOR ADVANCES
KaiSer'S Men BurrOW Zig-Zag
Trenches Close up to Allies
Lines From Which They Di-
rect Desperate Charges.

LONDON, Dec. Stalking a lesson
from the enormous losses they suf-
fered by throwing men forward across
exposed places i'm mass formation, the
German officers have modified their
form Of attack in the northern sphere.
This information is contained in
another eyewitness narrative written
by a member of the staff Of Field
Marshall Sir John French, which was
issued by the government press bu-
reau today. The narrative, which is
dated Nov. %, says:
The weather was warm and fine
on the 26th, 27th and 2Sth, but these
three days were not productive of
any incidents OF magnitude.
These were about the Quietest days
we had experienced in weeks. Though
generally inactive along our front the
Germans continued 20 press against
that section Of our line held by the
Indian troops despite their previous
losses in this direction. The Germans
in that region undertook sapping op-
eratiOns in order TO shorten the dis
tances Of their assaults. None was
successfully carried out.
Employ Civilians.
along the whole front sapping op-
erations have been incessant. There
seems little doubt that the Germans
are employing civilians, whether they
be willing or not TO do such work. TO
dig trenches. Some who refused 60 do
this labor were shot.
ION the 26th the enemy succeeded,
first by s2pping. then assaulting from
a short distance amid a shower OF
bombs in gaining possession OF a pOr-
ton Of a trench upon our right How
ever, they were soon elected.
ION the 28th, among the hostile
troops facing our center there were
signs that some changes had been
made in the vomposition Of the Ger
man artillery, which was actively feel
ing out a new zone OF fire.
Upon our right one German bat
terry was discovered in the morning to
have been left in the open and it was
surmised that the Germans had been
unable TO move it during the night.
German infantry made an isolated and
unsupported attack against the
French on our left, but were easily
beaten back. They are believed 10
have lost 400 killed. In addition the
French took many prisoners.
Change Methods of Attack.
THE aim of the Germans is still TO
gain ground to drive us back. But
owing TO the immense losses entailed
by their summary method OF assault
ing our lines across open spaces and
across any distance, no matter how
great they are employing means now
that are more modified. They now
move forward by means Of approaches
which are dug, roughly speaking,
parallel TO the trenches to be attack
ed. These approaches are dug nearer
and nearer 10 the allies lines, but are
zigzagging in such q manner 20 pre-
vent us from giving them an enhlad-
ing fire.
when these roughly built trenches
all OF which are shallow, have reach
ed a point considered within assault
ing distance, the troops sheltered in
them spring up and charge.
Behind the first line trenches the
British and French soldiers as well as
the Germans. have constructed "a num-
Der OF burrows Of every sort TO pro-
tect them from shells and bombs
Use Bombs OF All Kinds.
AT some points the lighting takes
place at such close range that the ar
ullery behind the lines cannot bonn
hard for fear of dropping shells into
the trenches OF its own side. Bombs
OF all descriptions are used in prodlg-
iCus quantities. The larger ones are
fired. but the smaller ones lthe gren-
ades) are thrown by hand al points
where the trenches are close enough
together. These are charged with
high explosives and explode with
great violence. Every assault is ush-
cred in with q prelude OF bombs. The
wholesale use ~ these missiles IS one
OF the prominent features Of the close
attacks now being carried on. With
machine guns and sharpshOOters and
bombs this kind OF lighting is very
deadly.
Much Of the fighting has been of a
blind character owing 10 the difficulty