The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-19
GERMAN BATTERIES
STRENGTH INCREASES
Eyewitness" Denies Reports Of
Marked British Success
Near La Bassee.
GERMAN SPIRIT BROKEN

boNDoN, Jan. 1S.--The British oFicial
eyewitness with the army in France
in his latest narrative. given out to-day,
takes occasion 20 deny the reports OF a
marked success by the British troops near
La Bassee on January 10 OFriday). lie
says that no attack at La Doisselle, the
place rumored az captured had been I'M
dertaken by the British The chief points
Of his article follow:
"On January - the observation post
west Of Cuichy. captured by US two days
earlier. was evacuated because the posi-
ton had been rendered untenable by the
fire OF the German mortars.
However. We were able 10 Eeep the
Germans from 5eoooupying It. Near that
point the Germans are cntrenched behind
heaps Of railway ties railway ballast
and other railway materials. which are
very susceptible 10 damage from our ar
tillcry. hut while our guns have done
much damage there has been a decided
increase in the strength of the hostile
batteries.
"on the i3,h the weather changed for
the worse and rain fell heavily The
operations consisted OF shipping for The
most par. but our artillery managed to
destroy a bridge south OF Armentieres
"pn the nth the enemy showed more
activity against our right In the rail-
way triangle. They shelled our entire
front along Tho right and right centre.
Shells from our guns fell in Frelinghien,
destroying htc brewery and nearby houses
since Januay ~ the increase in the fire
Of the hos lie artillery has been main
;a.ned But there Is now less rain and
the foods are SuOsidug
the German soldiers are not as
warmly clad AS our men, although there
appears to be n sutticiency Of food for
them. Their medical arrangements are
inferior TO those OF the Allies Their
surgical appliances are antiQuated and
many Of their hospital doctors lack sur
gical knowledge
Two captured German surgeons were
recently aiiowcu 10 operate on one OF or
mon and they showed surprising
amount OF ignorance. These points OF
efficiency. however. are more than offset
by tn" general efficiency OF their light
ing machine and the excellence of the
STAFF work The high discipline 1ud
thoroughness with which nearly every
military requirement has been thought
out and provided for and the minute care
FOR the wcllbeing Of tho living soldier AS
long AS ne can light. combined win me
callousness 20 losses when n sacrifice
OF life * thought necessary, all point 10
the formidable powers OF resistance OF
the enemy.
Some OF our prisoners the "eycwit-
ness continues, nov realize that Il vic
torious German advance Is out OF the
question and that their duty Is merely
to hold ground The idea that Germany
will gain any RdvantaEe commensurate
with the sacrifices incurred appears 10 A
great extent 10 hay" disappeared. but
there are few Germans who contemplate
the possibility OF an actual defeat and
the Invasion OF their country"
Df aviation US a factor in warfare the
observer says:
Aviation has profoundly modified war
fare by eliminating the element of sur
prise. for so long as the weather permits
aerial reconnaissance IL IL impossible 10
carry ont any great concentration or
movement Especially in the present form
of warfare have the former functions OF
the cavalry, az regards reconnaissance
been usurped by the iylng corps
The observer pays "A tribute 10 the work
OF tho British Eviators and mentions as
a frequent occurrence reconnaissance In
driving snow with the temperature be-
low zero or IN n gale under fire OF the
enemy's anti-aircrnft guns, or travelling
with the wind when the machine rocks
and sways and attains speed OF $50
miles an hour"