Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-18

expected any serious
Prince Oscar. attack on this day
But the French
would not give up the struggle without
one last despairing attempt. Suddenly
In the afternoon in great masses they
attacked Hill 1876 and It's eastern slope.
The guards, reserves and other troops
of the first line who received the main
force Of the conflict, held their ground
without wavering.
MEN TORN TO PIECES.
The Fourth Turkish regiment and
others attacked in five separate waves,
man going past man, the company's
leader usually riding at the head. They
were received with hail Of hand gren-
AIDES. which tore hundreds to pieces and
which threw the two front lines into
the air like letters Of the alphabet, while
the ones at the rear Jared no better.
Whoever escaped the grenadss fell IN
der the bayonet attacks IN tho raging
fight Tor possession Of tho trench.
Despite all their "elan," despite their
tenacity and remarkable fearlessness,
the French were forced to retreat. And
now into the disordered masses as they
retreated our heavy artillery fire struck
at front and side the losses of the
French were inhuman.
With this last great attack on the
height ended the winter battle in the
Champagne. After a terrible struggle
that lasted for months, after the stalk
ing OF terrible human sacrifices, the
French had to give up their hope OF
making a breach through to US.
The stalking thereon of their best
troops, who had fought with all the
tenacity of the French and with the
greatest ndurance, the stalking of all
their strength. had not only had no re-
suits, but had caused them a heavy
loss. For the main fact-that the at
tempt to make a breach had faileu-
showed that they had suffered a severe
defeat.
SPLENDID SIEGE WON.
German will power, the German sense
Of duty, the German discipline, and Ger
man heroism, had won one Of the most
splendid sieges that the work has ever
heard of away from Gallo fanaticism
and Gallo impetuosity.
The battle of the Champagne Is over.
The unparalleled heroism, the super
human patience of our brave troops
have already become things Of the past.
A new and fadeless laurel leaf has been
added to the wreath OF the glorious
deeds of our splendid army. But we,
the great German people taken all as
one, We will do well to listen to the
solemn warning that spoke so emphat-
ically to us during those stormy days OF
the battle of the Champagne.
What shall we learn from this gigan-
tic struggle of heroes, what duties rise
out Of it for US, what can we learn
from Hill 1876, so plowed to pieces with
grenades, and defended with such cour-
age and such splitting OF blood? What
was the source of our strength, the
final reason for our victory? What made
q hero out of the youngest pioneer and
made the oldest member Of the Land
wehr forget his years and his hard
ships?
In an overpowering way the advan-
Sageousuess Of strict discipline was here
proven. We can truthfully say that the
regiment that stands the straightest will
in all places fight the best. If youthful
enthusiasm and even patriotism falter
under lengthy firing Of grenades, If in
the devils kettle OF drum fire. even
the power to think seems gone, then
especially does the worth Of iron dis
cipline become apparent; it alone pro-
vides the necessary hold and gives de-
cision even in the most difficult places.
IRON DISCIPLINE INDICATED.
In times of peace now past we heard
many voices which, through mistaken
humanitarianism. through effeminancy
through malevolence, or through lack
of understanding, tried to throw over
board the unconditional obedience, the
iron drilling, in short, our good old sys-
tenn, proven good through many hun
,reds OF years There were many
humorous papers who made il their
business to make iron military discip-
line look foolish and TO pull the toun~
dations of the military system down
into the dust I believe the battle OF
ChampaSne has taught them all better.
Let us strike our breasts and promise
each other to make this condition fun
damentsl relation when peace comes
again.
But the results OF the battle in the
champagne proved the value of other
things than discipline. The love for the
fstherland. that fills all hearts from
the youngest recruit to the Oldest mai
Of the landwehr, the feeling that we are
battling against the. whole world in a
inst cause in a struggle for existence,
the conscientiousness that is born IN
and taught to the Germans, even to full
filling the very smallest duty, all these
things brought the scale down heavily
IN our side during those terrible battles
But one thing more II should teach
us. a strict discipline for the young we
must steel our young men. we must
harden them by all means at our dis
nosaI. so that they may, If such de-
nands are made on them as were made
/ on our troops in the Champagne, carry
| them out well.
! MUST NOT LOVE PLEASURE.
LET rs rid ourselves of the poison that