The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1915-07-15
lNILL win
VAR CERTAIN TO GO THROUGH
THE COMING WINTER
QUESTIONS ANSWERED

VOAo hAotNO ihNo ~ AAhAn e.
The Cause OF the Present Deadlock,
the Numbered Men Great Britain
Has on the Front, and Why Eng
land is Holding Such Small Part
of the Battle Line.
A special correspondent of the New
York World writes from the French
Battle Front, under date Of June 80:
"In the past three months I have
visited every sector of that great line
of battle wi ich stretches its unlovely
length across Europe, from the Chan
mel to the Alps, like some monstrous
and deadly snake. Not only have I
6 been permitted to see very great
deal which has been denied to others,
but I have learned much Of what is
really happening along that battle
line from the officers and men who
are holding IL. Now am going back
to America. When I reach there,
people are going to ask me certain
questions. AS / know perfectly we'll
what those questions will be. ! am
going to answer them to the best of
my ability beforehand.
"IIow long is the war going to
last? do not know. No one knows
Every officer 2nd man with whom
have talked in three armies agrees
that the spring of 1916 will see prac-
tically no change In the western bat
tie line. That there is to be another
winter campaign Is foregone con-
clusion. Every one expects it and is
preparing for it, just as they expect
another winter. The allies have or
dered enormous quantities Of winter
clothing, and in the Argonne and the
Vosses the French soldiers are al
ready hard at work building warm
and dry winter habitations. I might
add that the Germans do not show
the slightest sign OF weakening.
"Whatsls ffe cause. Of the present
deadlock? The trenches occupied by
the opposing armies are, to all intents
and purposes, forts, and these forts
have been rendered so nearly impreg-
nable by applied science that to take
them would entail sacrifice Of life
which none of the warning nations
can afford. Hence the armies remain
hidden and almost stationary in sub
Sterranean caves and labyrinths, each
waiting for It's opponent to weaken.
"Why, have the French not taken
The offensive? Because the Germans
pre- so strongly intrenched that the
ost In lives Of breaking through
heir lines would stagger the nation.
necessity required 1t, such a sacri-
ce would be made, but 1t Is felt that
would be unjustified when shells
pd patience will eventually achieve
same result. The duration Of
war the general commanding g
French armies in Alsace said to
entirely depends upon how fast
can kill off the Germans. Their
- EsfTas reached and passed its
>. kum strength, SO that every SOL
that we kill makes 1t that much
Aker. Our plan, therefore, Is to
as many as possible OF the enemy
lie at the same time conserving
own men,"
bnch army? II could not be bet
The men are keen as razors and
|nSrd as nails. They are we'll fed,
we'll clothed, and afforded every pro-
lection that human ingenuity can de-
wise. They seem absolutely confident
Of ultimate success, though they ad-
NIT quite frankly that they have a
long, hard job in front of them.
"What do the French think of Gen.
Joffre? They do not consider him a
military genius by any means, but
they have implicit confidence in him.
Particularly the government, which
knows him to be eminently safe.
Were Gen. Foch, for example, to sue
ceed to the supreme command and
achieve striking success, there
would be great danger Of his being
hailed as the Man on Horseback.
g does not want to be a Man on
prseback. He has said repeatedly
pit when the war Is over he wants
go fishing. He will, therefore
pbably remain in supreme com.
(nd.
5'HOw many troops has England I'm
ance? About seven hundred and
" thousand.
What Is the condition of the Brit.
army? 1t is new army. II is
hout experience, and 1t is without
berienced regiments to stiffen Il
give 1t confidence, for the regu-
army which England sent into
hnce last August has ceased to ex
The old regimental names re
in, but the officers and men who
nposed those regiments are to-day
the hospitals or the cemeteries
losses suffered by the British
by in France have been appalling
West Kent Regiment. for exam
has been three times wiped ou
three times reconstructed. The
ncess Patricia's Canadian Ligh
antry landed In France fourteen
ndred strong. To-day only on,
ldred and fifty remain. The pres
colonel Of the regiment was pri
Q In the ranks last October. Th,
ing need OF the British army a
moment Is for trained Officers
! non-commissioDed officers.
why are the British holding onl,
ty miles OF battle front, as com
red with seventeen held by the Bel
ms and upward of five hundred b!
French? Firstly, because tn
itiSh army is com posed of greer