Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-05
GERMAN SHORTAGE
: OF GUNS REPORTED
War Materials and Aeros
Scarcer, Says Document
by Gen. Won Arnim.
DRAWS SOME LESSONS
FROM SOMME BATTLE

WAR CORRESPONDENTS HEAD
QUARTERS IN FRANCE. october 4
via London. October 5-Germany Is
short Of guns. aeroplanes and war ma
terial Of all sorts. but not OF food. &C
cording to a most sensationally inter-
estinK document tho British have cap
tured. which 10 called Tho experiences
Of tho Fourth German Corps In the
Battle Of the Somme."
The document was written as IN
structions to the troops. It was drawn
from tho lessons Of the battle by Gen
Count sixt Won Arnim. the corps COM
mander.. who has been fighting oppo-
site the British throughout the onen-
silva This long detailed revelation OF
the inner thoughts of the German stan
discusses the methods and shortcom-
inxa of every branch Of the German
army in view of the unexpected power
and organization the British have
shown. The document starts out by
try, (which undoubtedly has learned
much since last autumn's offensive.
Tribute to the British.
'1t shows great dash in attack" the
document continues "The Englishman
also has physique and training in his
favot. One must acknowledge the skill
Of the English in rapidly consolidating
eaptured positions and their great te-
nacity in the defense Of them"
Because the breech actions OF SO many
German rifles have been clogged with
Qn2RaStS
document that 1t would be advisable to
fit a. cover over the breech OF the rifles
like that used in the British army
which can be easily unfastened ana
then, hangs from the rife.
Explicit instructions are given In the
document to the artillery to change
their methods of placing batteries IN
villages and behind steep slopes. be-
button Of their artillery fire. which
prodigally searches all obvious shell
tells. Owing to the terrific concentra-
ton of all British artillery nre, says
the document. front lines Of trenches
should be thirily held and dependence
placed on small groups Of machine
sunners. Once the British lay a cur
tain Of fire on trench, 1t adds. the men
had better evacuate 1t and lie down In
the open. Most interesting to the ON
GERS. in view Of the fact that the Brit
ish have so consistently held ground
they have taken against counter at
tack, IL what Gen. Won Arnim says on
the subject.
TASTY Counter Attacks Fail.
II coun Ter attacks. which on account
Of the situation ought to be method
fcally prepared are hurried. they cost
much blood. because the troops lose
their trust in the leaders II they fail,
which nearly always happens" says
Cen. vop Arnim.
Hesthen complains that the "existing
telephone system has proved totally
inadequate in consequence Of the devel-
opment Of the fighting." and says the
artillery signal system broke down.
discovered that British aeroplanes use
sound signals to tell gunners where
their shells are falling. and says the
fourth corps already has started ex-
pertinent on the same kind Of method
10 frequently interrupted.
Enemy Airmen Superior.
The numerical superiority of the
British airmen and tho fact that their
machines were better made is dis
agreeably apparent to u.s." Gen. Won
Arnim says. and he speaks Of the sur
prisineiy bold procedure Of British
airmen. who were often "able to fire
successfully on our troops with ma
few hundred feet Of the ground"
He adds that the German anti-aircraft
guns could not continue firing at that
height without exposing their own
troops to the serious danger Of shell
fragments"
Before the battle of the somme air.
men kept at anywhere from 5000 to
1900 feet over the Mines on account
Of anti-aircraft guns dre.
Ammunition Inadequate.
Gen. won Arnim in the document
warns his infantry to use their rifles
against the daring British aviators
He says that the ammunition supply
and the artillery are inadequate, and
that maps were insufficient in quantity
and bad as regards details. Also the
supply of horses has reached the
utmost limit. OF the food supply Gen.
Won Arnim says:
mo special difficulties arose. The
supply columns proved sufficient"
But he emphasizes the Importance OF
mineral waters and beverages, which
the British have always found plenti-
full in captured German trenches, and
says that the troops cannot have toe
much of all kinds of sausages and mea,
when fighting. Dried herring are use
full as they increase thirst. Alcoholic
drinks need not be served out to the
troops In dry. warm weather, but solidi-
Ned alcohol for cooking warm meals
has proved useful.
Fresh Troops for Attack.
Fresh troops. says the document
should always be used for attack. They
should avoid sunken roads and natural
cover az the British with their plenti.
full gunfre are sure to have these
points registered by their guns and
turn loose on them Immediately an at.
tack starts. Gen. Won Arnim empha-
sizes the value Of the steel helmets
which the French first introduced and
with which the Germans are not yet
fully supplied.
AS an idea OF the amount of ammuni-
tion such battle conditions as those OF
the Somme require. Gen. Won Arnin
says that a battery of four field guns
should have 1900 rounds at the battery
itself, aside from it's reserve supply.
Indeed, Gen. Won Arnim's cry is for
more guns. aeroplanes and ammunition
everything except food.
Gen. Scott Leaves Hospital.