Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-11-26
c REAT BATTLE
OF CHAMPA ACNE
WELL PLANNED
Series of Independent Move
mentS Made by Troops With
Concerted Object in View
Told What Was to Be Done,
lAs.oeIaled rre.. corre.pondencel

Paris. oct. 29.-The battle Of
Champagne, according to informa-
ton received from most reliable
sources was series of assaults by
different sections of the French forces
each of which had It's particular OBJ
ject in view arranged to harmonl2e
with the general plan but executed in
dependcntly. The lines that were
forced were those organized by the
Germans after the battle of the Marine
and perfected by year of systematic
labor to a point where their defend
ers had so much confidence in them
that the officers in command, though
anticipating an attack, We're caught
in their beds hy the first lines of the
French rush.
The trenches were not only forti-
fled by every means that the war of
trenches has developed but the posi-
ton was naturally strengthened by a
line of heights north Of Perthes from
Souain to Tahure by the twin heights
Mammelle Nord and Mammelle sud
north of the Mesnil with the strong
Notifications Of the Trape2e, To the
north Of Massiges the heights No. 1911
and 1893 furnished excellent support
and were strongly organized. Rest
ing on these heights were two posi-
tions about two miles apart, the first
composed Of three lines Of parallel
trenches in some places and five in
others with barbed wire defenses be.
tween them. All the ground covered
by these positions was also fortified
with transVersal and diagonal
trenches permitting lateral and enlil-
aiding fire with re1oubts so armored
as to hold out ana continue firing
even after the trenches had been de-
molished In the most exposed spots
in level country there were labyrinths
and networks. Complicated as were
these eurthworlts they had no secrets
for the French staff Every one Of
those trenches, redoubts. communi-
eating trenches and labyrnths had
been located, named or numbered and
plotted on the general staff maps, so
that each sector knew exactly what
It would find The ranges of every
part Of those lines had been taken
and when the artillery opened the
three-inch shells fell with deadly pre-
cision upon the defense works, ievel-
ing trenches demOlshng redoubts
and blockhouses with lOophOles,
blocking up communicating trenches
and oblterating barbed wire entan-
clements While the fire Of the light
field pieces covered all the ground
covered by the first line and the sup
porting trenches as far as the second
position the heavy guns attacked gen
eral headquarters and encampments
further back, completely blocking
railway traffic by the destruction Of
stations aud making It impossible to
bring up supplies to the trenches Of
the first position during seventy-two
hours.
While the bombardment was in
progress the officers explained to the
men Of each different sector what
the general plan was and what part
his particular sector WAS to take IN
it, The men knew from the maps
that we're shown them what they
would find after they had leaped over
the parapet OF the first trench. they I
knew from their instructions what
they we're 10 do at each obstacle. They
knew what their final objective was
and when they reached IT, though ig- I
norant of what the adjoining sector /
was 10 do further than the columns /
were to meet at a designated spot To .
this thorough preparation Is attribut- I
ed by the most competent critics the .
success OF the first rush and the re- /
markedly high proportion Of prison.
ers taken.