Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-05-29
GREAT INCREASE
IN EQUIPMENT ON
BRITISH FROM 7
Ride of One Hundred Miles
Now Necessary TO Traverse
Entire English Line in
France,
lAssociated Press Correspondenee.l


British Headquarters, France, May
IA correspondent who has been
absent for six months from the Brit
ish front is amazed upon his return
at the increase in numbers Of men,
guns and equipment The numerous
battalions of the new army which
have arrived have engGlfed the OLD
regular army. Not one officer in ten
that are met has had any military
service before the war
II now requires a ride of hundred
miles TO compass the British front
Khaki is thick in the villages of the
Somme country as well as in those OF
northern Belgium. The British hold
the famous Labyrinth" as well as
Ypres and Loos. In the course OF the
taking over of a long section of the
French line which freed French
troops for service hundreds of miles
Of wire had to be laid, transport or
eanized. headquarters moved, new
corps and divisions created and COM
manders appointed. In the last few
months new men have come into po-
sitions of responsibility. Men who
entered the army as second lieuten-
ants have become captains without
yet being old enough to vote. Ma
iors have become colonies and gen
erals.
Foes Concentration Heavy.
1--WE do not know when the war
will be over but we do know that
pring is here" say the soldiers. The
second winter in the trenches is fin
shed, Its chill, wet monotony is
over. Before another winter--wen,
what will happen this summer? The
growth of the army and the sun
drawing the moisture out of the mud
the universal question.
Never, so far as one can learn, have
there been so many Germans and so
many allied troops on the western
front as at this time. Next to the
Nerdun region, the German coneen-
tration is heavier in face of the Brit
ish than any other section from the
North sea to switzerland. No Ger
man troops have been drawn off from
The British front as reinforcement for
the attack on Verdnn.
Whatever fighting there was
through the winter and there now is
along the British front might best
he described as trench raids. one
side or the other demolishes sec
don of enemy trench by exploding
mines or by artillery concentration.
Then the infantry rushes the trench,
gathers in some prisoners, does what
damage it can, and returns to it's own
trench. In the morasses of the Ypres
salient and the Loos region nothing
more could be done though a winter
attack might be possible In high coun-
try like that around Verdun. Much
ingenuity has been shown BY both
tides in these trench raids. But no
sooner has one side worked ont new
rick than the other learns how TO
COUNTER it. Mud" was the reason
siven in a word. by an officer why
he British could not attack in win
er to relieve the pressure on Yer
iun ut was the season the Ger
mans would have chosen for us to at
ack,' he added
Victoria Cross Ceremony.
Notwithstanding the countless deeds |
# bravery that have been chronicled /
m the British front, the ceremony |
# awarding the Victoria Cross is still |
are enough to he notable whenever /
occurs. one such recent ceremony
vas, in fact, unique, for the recipient
vas the Rev. Noel Mellish, London
urate, who is the first chaplain in
he British army to receive the cross
n the present war. or in any war