New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-12
GERMAN WAR METHODS
EXPLAINED BY BRITISH
Official Bureau Declares That Kasers Generals Force
French Prisoners Into Trenches to Act as Decoys
to Bring Comrades Under Guns.

vaneed. Thank God, 1T was not neees-
ssry.
ION the other hand. an example is
given Of All order which prescribes
only legal aud suitable precautions ex-
cept as regards the shooting OF host
ages for sclf-protcction in the cnemys
country. II was issued some time ago
"'Aix-la .ChapClle, August 10, 1914.
To protect ourselves from the ex-
tremely hostile attitude Of the Belgian
population It is necessary 70 take very
vigorous and energetic measures
against non -combatants who take par
in the struggle.
"'For this purpose no firearms or
explosives must be retained by them.
II il. therefore, ordered that before
locality rs occupied a detachment OF
all arms will march in ahead OF the
columns and warn The population.
through the Mayor and local clergy. 20
deliver up all arms, ammunition and
explosives.
"'Aftcr they have handed over their
arms the inhabitants will be collected
outside the locality and tho houses and
gardens will be- searched. n any arms
arc found the hostages viii he exc
cutcd and the place SGT on fire.
moned 10 surrender their arms they
will be Informed OF the penalties TO
which they expose themselves by non
compliance. The arms will be de-
stroyed and the explosives thrown into
the water. "VON QUASI.
Commanding IL A. l..
Germans Miss Nothing.
Another German order Of the sec
end army is quoted because II Is pos
sibly significant Of the present state OF
Gcrmany's military resources:
Tho Minister Of War wishes 10 i'm
press upon all the necessity for search
ing the field Of battle with the greateSt
Of care for all wsrlike material belong
ing to our army. such as deIdgla5sos,
haversacks, rifles and
cartridges. all limbcrs and supply
wagons which can lie used again Tor
new formations. In addition 10 tins.
the units must take care TO PICK up
ammunition and empty
cartridge cases.
THE luli IN the operations on our
immediate front, pending n general ad-
vance, affords an opportunity to-day
October Q, 1914, for giving some fur
Their description Of the country IN
W hich we are operating and Of the val
ley Of the Aisne.
"The Aisne flows right acros, our
front. following a tortuous course
along the bottom Of the valley, some
hundred metres below the edge Of the
plateau on either bank. II is placid
stream. between 80 and 200 feet IN
width. and unfordable. The bottom o.
the valley down which it mesndcrs con
sists Of practically fat meadow land.
intcrsected by various roads leading
north and south over bridges which
spar the river. These roads are lined
with poplars or fruit trees. whose
military significance lIes m the fact
that they screen the movements OF
troops along the roads, though. on the
other hand. they make the position of
the latter clear from afar.
"The chief place along the BRUSH
front is Scissors, q town lying on tne
left bank. at q pronounced pend norW
ward. The villages on the river itSeH
are OF considerable tactical Importance
since most OF the bridges are close 10
them. They have, therefore, been IN
targets Of the German artillery, ana
some are no more than masses OF
ruins. l.;
several o. the hamlets at some DIS
lance from the Aisne and on It's 'eit
lark have formed the objects OF SINH
lar attentions from the cncmys guns
probably because they might serve -
noints OF concentration for our troops
as have also the great number OF roads
winding down the hillsldes FACING
north and leading across the meadows
which afford the only channels OF ap-
nrosch TO our troops on the north s'je.
an regard to the villages. one POINT
which strikes the eye ~ their compact
moss. for in most OF them the houses
are clustered together IN ono ma So
OUTLYING houses being nearer. IncE
inc tho roads sometimes almost IN
tirelv on ono side. There arc also out
living ch5teaus and farms quite $50
lated.
"rhe other main Typographical ioat,
ures of the valley are two railways and
a canal.
"Generally speaking, the slopes
forming the north side OF the valley
are sleeper than those Of the soulh.
but in other respects the two sides Are
very similar Both are equally cut up
into spurs and subsidiary valleys, the
chief Of the latter. on the south, be
ing formed by the watcrcourse OF inc
Vesle. which extends Southeastwsrd
through Braisne.