Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-26


mense quantities of munitions and sup
plies of all kinds requisite for the at
tack on the fortified lines which the
Germans had been nearly two years IN
building and for continuing the OF
fensive once 1t had started.
:, Had to Anticipate Losses.
THE wastage Of life and material in
so titanic "a struggle must be FORE
seen and calculated and arrangement
made for renewal. Our machine must
be SO organized that no contingency
could throw it out of gear and that we
should have everything required IN
abundance for the complicated business
Of modern war which should enaole US
to press any advantages gained l.,
Are you satisfied with the results
Eyes, we have taken position after
position and 10000 prisoners. For
nearly four months this new army mas
kept on attacking; it has asserted its
mastery over the enemy who had forty
years of preparation. The dogged,
heroic gallantry and tenacity OF our
infantry have been proved Desplte
their desperate counter attacks, now
few prisoners the Germans have taken!
when in their eagerness our batta-
lions have advanced too far because
the resistance was comparatively light,
and the Germans closed in with SUI
perior numbers, our men neither nei9
their ground successfully or died
fighting rather than yield. This Is the
spirit which we have to work with in
our future plans. Our young ohcers
who knew nothing of war two years
ago have had a schooling OF battle.
are being filled by chosen men from
the ranks, as well as from the schools
at home and in France"
Says Germans Are Tired.
You have been fighting the Ger
mans for two years, now. general: have
they depreciated?" said the CORE
spondent.
"Decidedly They are still a brave
and skillful army, but tired army.
For the first time they have known
what it was to face superior artillery
fire and armies which know their les
sons as well as they do. The French
and ourselves fight as one army. II
either develops any improvement it is
shared with the other. So similar have
our systems become that I never con-
slider whether I have an English or a
French army alongside of me.
THE Germans, too, are quick to
adopt any new wrinkles from US. We
are all learners, even after two years
of war.
After some of. our attacks, confu-
sion in the German lines and a break
down of the German staff organization
were evident from the haste with
which ill-assorted units were rushed
haphazard into the front line. There
was lack of cohesion on their part, and
even of maps of the area to which they
were sent, and this induced confusion,
which sometimes cost them heavier
casualties on the defense than were
cost to ourselves on the offensive.
Gen Skobelef once said that IN
every hundred men there was small
proportion who were naturally brave,
a larger proportion who would respond
to leadership and training. and again
small proportion who were funks. A
small proportion of the Germans have
shown tenacious and defiant courage,
particularly in their defense OF ma
chine gun positions. The great ma
iority have ceased to respond to lead
ership with their old ardor. AS for the
funks who are disciplined into cour-
age, they are the ones who have been
following their natural instincts of
self-preservation and holding up their
hands when our men approach in their
charges"
Possible to Break Lines.
Can the line be broken?'