The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-08-05
LITTLE GROUND
GAINED In WEST
REASON GIVEN SHOWS UNsUR.
MoUNTA6LE DIFFICULTIES
OF THE WAR.
In This Section Siege War Prevails
and 20 Advance 10 Impossible.
Wear Out Enemy is Play.

PARIS. Aug. I. $3.50 D. m.-An ex-
PLANTATION OF why so little progress is
being made in the trench and Belgian
war zone. so far as actual ground
gaining Is concerned. Is afforded In a
statement from unquestionable au-
thority In which the almost unsur-
mountable difficulties OF the present
struggle are set forth
During the last six months" says
the authority. from the North sea TO
the Swiss mountains there has been
veritable siege warfare along the
length OF the broken line Of trenches.
II this warfare all strategic maneu-
yers are absent. because maneuvers
are impossible on ground where every
square metre is marked and swept
by artillery FIRE. The only alternative
is a frontal attack. Such an attack Is
smashed to pieces in one part or an
other against the formidable organi.
cations of defense. in which all the
resources Of art and science have
been employed by the two adverse
ries.
in concrete subterranean works.
armored and casemated. thanked with
rapid frers and mortars and linked 20
one another by marvelously concealed
communicating trenches which are
protected by the fire of heavy bat
teries. dwell the infantry abundanfly
provided with rifles and hand gren-
AIDES. To take possession of one OF
these works. IL is first necessary TO
dismantle these trenches and destroy
the material which they shelter. THIS
Is the artillery's task.
NO one before the war could have
imagined the vast amount of shells
required Several thousand shells
fired during the few hours on r.
stricted space announce an attack for
which this preparation is being made
often Insufficient.
But no matter how numerous the
heavy guns or how well directed their
FIRE. II often happens that the prepa-
ration has been insufficient One or
two rapid firers NOV down the troops
who climb from the trench ready for
the charge. and after suffering heavy
sacrifices the attacking party arrive
al the first line Of the trenches Of the
enemy. The opposing artillery with
a literal wall OF fire effectively pre-
vents any reinforcements from advan-
cling TO their support They must
fortify the captured trenches. being
subjected the while 10 much more ac-
curate bombardmCnt a. the enemy
knows the exact range Of their former
positions.
such offensive movements could
not be multiplied nor prolonged IN
definitely as much on account Of the
moral and physical effort which they
demand Of the men ~ on account Of
the losses which they involve. Meth
or can such ofensivos be- improvised
Before beginning an ptfaCk large
quantities ~ material and proiectiles
must be gathered in one place pre-
viously appointed hv the commander.
advanced fortihcations dug. and the
ground uinutely studied
N. despite these difficulties. the
French army rencws an offensive At
tho price of bloody sacrifice. BE- is
with tho conscientious mission OF hold
ing largo enemy forces ON the western
front Hy too Marnc victory DO
stopped tho invasion and ruined the
fret German plan. which was nraf. TO
shat'or France and return then
against Russia.
Prevented Progress.
By the victory ~ the User with
'IF aIN N' .N' NIIIfN "NIUIf" rInNIU
the line Of defense. 90 effectively pre-
vented the enemy from getting a foot.
hold in Pes DO Calais
by continuous offensive actions
from February .o Iuir in Champagne.
fhs Argonrc and Arfoia if dcmoral
iz"d approximately 1000 OHl and car.
iured au snorWor. amount of mate.
rial without allovinr tho enemy
gr Instant urspi'e. DO forced The Ger.
nan general Etan 90 utilize on tho
rc.fern front reserves boz barracks
and araeu4la
~ would Dol serious mistake 20
measure our effort by tho rrolnd con.
Dupr'd The decentralization and
wearInE down of the German army ls
The real goal
we have obtained This goal since
o. hae been proved that during these
sfN months the enemy has suffered
heavy losses and. taking etcr1rhinr
into consideration he can only 20