Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-06
BRITONS TOUGHEST
OF FOES, DECLARES
GERMAN WAR CHIEF
Won Heeringen, in Alsatian
Field, Points Out Certain
Plans of Campaign That
Failed.

FIELD HEADQUARTERS OF THE
GERMAN ARMY IN FRANCE, Jan. c.
This important section of the long west
ern battle line Is guarded by the army
of General Won Heeringen, to which force
belongs the credit of the first heavy
fighting and the first considerable VIC
tory of the war-the defeat of the French
at Muelhausen, Alsace, on August 10.
General Won Heeringen Is far from the
generally conceived idea of a German
commanding officer. SiXty-five years
old, with silky white beard, mild eyes,
q pleasant voice and a courteous con-
sideration for all with whom he comes
In contact. 1t takes the gray field uni
form with the black and white ribbon
and the Iron Cross upon his breast to
reveal the man.
AS General STAFF officer, as Prussian
Minister of War and as army inspector
and prospective commander General Won
Heeringen has been in close touch with
the modern theory of war, but he admits
that all did not come out as the experts
had supposed.
TRENCHES CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.
Take the laying out of trenches, for
example" he said. "The first principle
to be observed, according to our ideas
before the war, was to secure as ex-
tended field of hre as possible. so as
to force an attacking enemy to advance
a long distance under fire of the de-
tenders. -....-
''Now we have learned that the first
essential is to have them concealed and
protected from artillery fire, even If the
field of fire does not extend more than
50 yards before tho trenches. That is
enough, with modern weapons. to stop
any attack
another lesson we have learned is
in regard to the occupation OF cities In an
advance. We now march our columns
around the city instead of through 1t.
sending only light accommodating parties
into IL until we have established that IL
is clear of the enemy.
Hand grenades are the best weapons
for street and house-to-house fighting.
A couple OF hand grenades thrown into
a house occupied by the enemy will clear
It moro quickly than anything else and
with far less loss OF life than by the use
of the bayonet. Our men all carry them
now" ,''''
THE HAND GRENADEs.
These hand grenades are about the
size OF a baseball and are bound to
snort WoOucH pduuApot NAAcAA NOtS
handy to throw, Usually they are pro-
vided with fuses which the user lights
from a match or Sgar. A supply OF
these is kept in readiness In every trench.
General Won Heeringen, when asked
as to the superiority OF dense or ex-
tended lines for attack, said that in
order to get the men forward under
heavy fire 1t was necessary to advance
In successive rushes rather than in dense
lines, owing 70 the effect OF the modern
infantry weapons.
The general had only praise for the
British and French soldiers. The French
were stiff, hard fighters, but the British
soldiers were the toughest opponents.
The German infantryman has q whole-
some appreciation OF the way In which
the Tommles stiok to their trenches to
the last
The clothing and equipment OF the
English officers and soldiers Is consid-
cred almost ideal.
Have you seen everything you wished
tor asked General Won Heeringen, in a
farewell conversation. I'VE have no Sc
cTets. you know. except such as are
locked up In the breasts OF our COM
manders. gave instructions that you
should be given every facility for your
work. In return please do one thing.
Let the people OF America know that wo
are not Huns and baFbarians"