The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-06-30
ARTILLERY FIRE
0FFRENCHBREAKS
RECORD OF %AR
Fired 100000 Shells in One Day D,
ing Attack on Battlefront North of
Arras-Brought Small Success
HOPE GUSTS DISAPPOINTMENT
Arrival of Sufficient Ammunition
Brings Confidence to Supporters of
Allies -Deadlock to Continue
BY J. w. r. MASON

New York, June 3O.-The German
commanders who are defending the
battlefront north of Arras, which the
French have been attacking for the
past six weeks, estimate that an aver
age of 100000 shells day have been
fired throughout the offensive period
On one day the French fired 100000
shells, which is the record of artillery
power in consequence Of a worlds
record
Yet, despite the hurricane of am
munition thus rained on the Ger
man trenches, the French gains have
been very small and without any
major military influence. The most
that has been done has been the cap
ture of the famous Labyrinth, which
covers about one quare mile of in
tricately entrenched terrain. The
labyrinth formed salient in the
German line, and was thus open not
only to frontal attack, but also to
uCCoChO o6dluoL DOLu ldAhor L uC
normal German line has no exposed
TANKS and can be assaulted only from
the front.
Must Arouse Suspicion.
The disappointing result of the
French offensive must arouse a sus-
picion that too much emphasis is be-
ing put on the effectiveness of con-
centrated shell fire. Thus, in Eng
land, the people are being led to be-
lieve that the war has reached
stage where it can be won in the
workshops. It is only necessary to
obtain an ascendancy over the enemy
in the proper kind of artillery and
ammunition, runs the argument, and
the foe will then automatically be ex-
terminated.
But, if this reasoning is true, it
is inexplicable that the French have
been unable to make any serious
progress north of Afras. Lloyd;
George estimated recently that the
Austro-Germans were now producing
100000 shells day.
J. Among Three Fronts.
This number, however, must be
distributed among three fronts.
There is no evidence that suggests
that the Germans have duplicated the
recent French record of concentra-
ting fire averaging 100000 shells
a day for six weeks along a front
not more than Is miles in extent. Yet
the Germans have all but cleared Gal
cent Ypres battle they made greater
gains against the English than the
French have made north of Arras.
Other elements than gunfre in
modern warfare must not be allowed
to retire too far into forgetfulness
by those who are promising victor
les yet to come. It is very possible
that the constant emphasis now be-
ing laid ON the magical effect of a
sufficient quantity of high powered
shells will lead to bitter disappoint-
ment when the shells are ready. The
Allies, and Englishmen in particular,
are being lulled into mood similar
to that which prevailed last winter,
when there was absolute faith in the
wonders that were to be accom-
plished by Kitchener's spring often
sive
Now Have Hope. -
The disappointment which follow
ed at the failure of the spring often
sive is now gradually being replaced
by hopes aroused by promises of what
will happen when the new ammuni-
ton is ready. But if the new am
munition turns out to be no more eff