Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-10
EYE WITNESS STORY OF FRENCH
MILITARY OPERA TONS STORIES
OF GIGANTIC WAR AT FRONT

London, Oct Q, 1910 A. NJ. The Of
fetal Press Bureau today gives an
eyewitness story of the operations
in France supplementing that of Oct.
3. 1t follows:
"Wednesday, the both of September,
merely marked another days progress
in the gradual development of the sit
uation and was distinguished by no
activity beyond slight attacks by the
enemy There was also artillery IRE
at intervals. One of the airmen sue
ceeded in dropping nine bombs, some
of which fell on the enemys rolling
stock. Some of the enemys front
trenches were found empty at night
but nothing muchaA can be deducted
from this fact, for they are frequent
ly evacuated in this way, no doubt to
prevent the men in the back lines from
firing on their comrades in front of
them.
Thursday, Oct. j. There was only
desultory gunfire. as targets offered
During the night the enemy made
few new trenches and a French avia-
tor dropped one bomb on the railroad
station and three bombs on the troops
massed near ii.
On Friday, the End. the Germans
were driven out of mill which they
had occupied as an advanced post
their guns and machine guns Wnich
supported it being knocked out one oy
one by well directed artillery IRE
from a flank. During the night they
made the usual two attacks on the
customary depot in our lines and as
on previous occasions were repulsed.
Our loss was six men wounded.
up to Sept. Il, the air mileage
made by our airmen since the besin7
ming of the war amounted to S,ooo
miles. an average of 1000 miles per
day. the total equalling nearly four
times the circuit of the world. The
total time spent in the air was l4oo
hours.
There are many points connected
with the fighting methods of either
side that may be of interest. The FOL
lowing description was given by a
battalion commander who has been at
the front since the commencement of
hostilities and has fought both in the
open and behind entertainments.
THE important points to watch
are the heads of valleys and raVines
and woods, especially those on the
sides of hollow ground and all dead
ground to the front and TANKS The
German officers are skilled in leading
troops forward under cover in closed
bodies, but once the latter are de-
ployed and there is no longer the d.
rect, personal leadership, the men wiz
not face heavy fire. Sometimes the
advance. is made in series of lines
with the men well opened out at in
tervals of five or six PAGES; at others
it is made in lines with the men al
most shoulder to shoulder, but 1t is
followed in all cases by supports in
close formation. The latter either
waver when the front line is checked,
or crowd on to 1t in moving forward
under the orders of their officers ana
the mass forms a magnificent target
when the Germans are not heav-
lily entrenched no great losses are in
CURED in advancing against them by
methods in which the British army
has been instructed. For instance in
one attack over fairly open ground
against about an equal force of in
fantry, sheltered in a sunken road and
in bitches, we lost only ten men killed
and sixty wounded, while over 400 OF
the enemy surrendered. In the fight
ing behind entertainments, the Ger
mans endeavor TO gain ground by max
ing advances in line at dusk or just
before dawn and then digging them
selves in, in the hope no doubt, that
they may eventually get so near as to
be able. as during manoeuvres. to
reach the hostile trenches in a single
rush They never have succeeded in
doing this against us. If by creeping
up in dead ground they do succeed
in forwarding their position by night
they are easily driven back by fire
in the morning. A few of the Drawer
men sometimes remain behind at close
ranges and endeavor to inflict losses
by sniping. Sharpshooters also are
often noticed in trees or wriggline
about until they get good cover The
remedy is to take the initiative and
detail men TO deal with the enemys
sharpshooters.
Z" .Few night attacks have been made
against US. Previous to one of them a
rarty of the enemy erept up close to tho
pr9flsh line and set alight a hayriok 50
II, a.sula Fora a Beacon. on which TIC
center OF tsse attaeisisS lire naercaea.
{ Against Ger racn the enemy never
has closed with the bayonet