The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-20
Victory Now Likely to
Rest on Side With
Greatest Resources in
Heavy n

st@OoD God, man! II wasn't
human warfare. but the
wrath of he'll let loose in
stead. It was a horrible
mixture Of shrieking, bursting shells
and unending earthquakes. Nerves
couldn't stand 1t We were literally
swept away by a relentless storm OF
explosive shells. There was no way
10 turn 10 escape II. The confusion
was simply awful. And then, from
behind the screen Of that devastating
blast, the British infantry rushed
upon our stunned and staggered reri-
nan,s. We hadn't a chance"
In these words a German officer who
survived the hattie Of Neuve Chapelle
described that action. and. uninten-
tionally he epitomized the stories OF
other fights that have followed in the
trail Of the opening Of the spring cam
paisn on the battlefelds Of Europe.
Now people are beginning better to
realize the prophetic genius of Ma
poleon for II was ne who said that God
was on the side OF the General with
the largest number Of guns. But this
must be qualified o because victory
inclines to-day toward the army that
has not Only the guns but also the
ammunition needful to satisfy their
Unsuitable greed.
A, N.,ya rbanalta the Drgtisk
pended more powder and projectiles
in a single action than they did during
the whole period of the Boer war.
The god Of modern war is not Mars.
but Vulcan. and from the b.ast fur
mace ana the machine shop must come
the shells rather than bullets that
will decide the conflict. The Allies are
sorely in need Of these munitions. and
A, IL her abundance of this particular
kind that has made IL possible for
Germany 10 hold her own so long ana
10 carry the war nto the lands OF heI
enemies.
Only a few weeks ago victory
perched upon the Russian standards.
The Cars soldiers had penetrated the
Carpathian passes. Przemysl rad fall
len. and Galicia was wei nigh won.
But suddenly the tide of battle turned.
The Russians failed to press their ad-
vantage. and without any apparent
reason so far as the world at large
could Judge the campaign a halted.
The Germans. however, knew the
reason why: The Cars batteries were
starved through Jack Of ammunition.
and his infantry could not press for
ward without that support. Then II
was that Gen. Won Mackensen began
@ movement that military critics said
was fraught with peril. He started a
drive against a numerous enemy that
Rad proved irresistible but a short
in before. All know the result.
The German commander had at his
disposal many batteries and plenty of
ammunition. These guns Won Mack
ensen massed along a narrow front
and, on a grander scale, did just what
the British had done weeks before at
Neuve Chapelle.
By virtue of the shattering power OF
these field pieces he u a swath through
the Russian armies and sent the Cars
troops. lately victorious, hurrying
rearward because their " artillery
was unable to r~etaliate. Gen. o
Mackensen held his foe at bay while
he demorallzed him. and the superior
numbers of the Russian infantry were
rever abe 70 come close enough to try
conclusions with cold steel.
Italy's delay in entering the war
has been the subject Of much discus
zion, but the Italian armies are now
proving the wisdom of the months of
apparent inaction. King Victor En-
nanuel's troops were able TO advance
rapidly largely by virtue OF the smash
ing power o: the Italian field batteries.
The royal a~rsenals and the private
manufacturers have been busy for
months in providing a vast store of
munitions. and II is upon this reserve
strength that the Kings armies are
drawing to-day. Again an example
Is presented OF the battle winning
capacity Of mobile guns when properly
I'D with powder and shell-it may be
fdded with proper shells. because the
European war has shown the made
ouacy Of the hitherto Wanted shrap-
Eel.