The sun., 1916-10-08
YON ARNIM REVEALS
GERMAN WEAKNESS
British Capture Report Pre-
pared by the Teutonic
Corps Commander.
INFERIOR ON THE NJ
Admits British Superiority in
Air and Artillery--Short
Everything But Food.
INFERIOR ON THE SOMME

WAR CoRREsPoNpEHrs' HEADQUARTERS
IN FRANCE, Oct. Z. via London. Oct. 5.
Germany IL snort Of guns. aeroplanes
ana war material Of all sorts, but not of
food. according to a most sensationally
Interesting document the British have
captured. which II called the expert
ences OF the Fourth German Corps In
the battle Of the Somme."
The document was written as instruc-
lions to h troops. II was drawn from
the lessons OF the battle by Gen. Coun
Sixt Won Arnim. the corps commander.
who has been fighting opposite the Brit
ish throughout the offensive. This long
detailed revelation OF the inner thoughts
of the German stan discusses the meth
DDS n shortcomings Of every branch
OF the German army In view OF the un-
expected power and organization the
British ave shown.
The document starts but by paying q
tribute to the British infantry. (which
undoubtedly has learned much since last
autumn's offensive" II shows great
dash In attack. The E%nglishman also
has physique and training in his favor
One must acknowledge the skill OF the
English in rapidly CONSOLIDATING zap
tured positions and their great tenacity
In the defence of them"
Because the breech actions OF 40 many
German rifles have been clogged with
dirt, Gen. Won Arnim suggests In the
document that II would he advisable to
NJ a cover over the breech of the rifles.
like that used In the British army, which
can be easily unfastened and then hangs
from the rife.
British Artillery Very Effective.
Explicit instructions are given in the
doucument 10 the artillery to change
their methods OF placing batteries in
villages and behind steep slopes. because
II the British method OF distribution Of
their artillery FIRE. which prod!gally
searches all obvious shelters. owing to
the terrific concentration of the British
artillery fire, says the document, front
lines OF trenches should be thinly held
ana dependence placed or small groups
Of machine gunners. Once The British
lay a curtain Of fire on a trench. II adds.
the men had better evacuate II and lie
own in the open.
Most Interesting to the o~ficers. IN view
OF the fact that the British have SO con-
sistently held ground they have taken
against counter attacks. IL what Gen.
Won Arnim says on the subject.
III counter attacks. which on account
Of the situation ought TO be methodically
prepared. are hurried they cost much
blood. because the troops lose their trust
in the leaders II they fail. which nearly
always happens" says Gen. Won Arnim.
He then complains that the existing
telephone system has proved totally in
adequate IN consequence OF the Develop
ment OF the fghtlng." and says the
artillery signal system broke down. The
commander asserts that he has dis
covered that British aeroplanes use
sound signals to tell gunners where their
shells are falling. and says the Fourth
Corps already has started In experiment
on the same kline OF method as n COM
plement to the wireless. which IL fire.
quently interrupted.
Superiority of british Afrmen.
THE numerical superiority Of the
| British airmen and the fact that their
machines were better made are disagree
ably apparent to us Genera Won Ar
| MIN says, and he speaks Of the sur
| prisingly bold procedure of British air
men, who were often liable TO fire sue
cessfully on our troops with machine
| guns by descending to within a few
hundred feet OF the ground" He adds
that the German anti-aircraft runs could
not continue firing at that height with
out exposing their " troops to the
serious danger OF shell fragments" Be
| fore the battle OF the Somme airmen
kept at anywhere from 5000 to 1000
feet over the lines on account OF anti
| aircraft g%unfre.
General Won Arnim in the document
warns his infantry to use their rifles
against these daring British aviators.
He says that the ammunition supply n
| 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 General Won Arnim
says:
"No specia, dinhculties drose. The
supply columns prove sufficient
Sausage 70 Fight On.
But no empha sizes the Importance Of
mineral waters and beverages, which the
British have always found plentiful in
captured German trenches, and says that
| the troops cannot ave too much Of all
| kinds Of sausages and meat when fight
ing. Dried herring are unsatisfactory.
"a they increase thirst. Alcoholic drinks
| need not be served out to the troops In
dry, warm weather, but solldihed alcohol
| for cooking warm meals has proved use-
full.
Fresh troops. a the document,
| should always be used for attack. They
should avoid sunken ronds and natural
cover, as the British, with their plentiful
gunhre. are sure to nave these points
registered by their guns and turn loos.
on them Immediately an attack starts
Gen. von. Arnim emphasizes the value
OF the steel helmets, which the French
first introduced and with which tho Ger
mans are not yet fully supplied.
As an idea Of the amount OF ammuni-
ton such battle conditions as those OF
the Somme require. Gen. Won Arnim says
that a battery Of four field guns should
have 1900 rounds at the battery itself
aside from its reserve supply.
| Ipdaad Can Won Arpim'a INV - fov