The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-10-26
Copyright, 1916, by the Associated
Press.

Copyright, 1916, by the Associated
Press.
British Front in France, (via Lon
DOM, Oct. 24.-More than three and
Dne-half months Of battle on the
Somme front with the heaviest con-
centration of artillery, infantry and
every type Of val material. and the
most skillful n desperate fighting the
world has ever known, has resulted in
marked development Of British fight
Ing efficiency n Of means for reduc-
Ing he losses Of the attackers. In the
way Of concrete achievements the
British have taken 10000 prisoners, OF
o little less than $500, for each of the
Fl villages captured, with an average
population Of about 800 souls. They
have taken 1876 guns, 100 trench NOR
guns. They have not lost a gun.
German Losses Now Higher.
The British have driven back the
Germans on a front Of II miles, to a
depth Of four to eight miles. Former
citizens Of captured villages are re-
questing that they be allowed to re-
turn to them and build new homes on
the ruins Of their dc ones. The Of
fensive has consisted Of intervals of
preparation and siege work after each
big general attack. to prepare what Is
called a jumping Off place for another
general attack. Through July, owing
to the heavy cost of taking the first
line trenches, the British casualties
were heavier than the German; through
August when over a large part of the
front, the Germans were out of their
second as well as their first line sys-
tenn Of defenses, and the battle became
one Of digging and fighting in the open
for both sides casualties were about
even. Yet from all information, the
correspondent can gain the German
losses were not less than rs and pos
sibly so per cen higher than the Brit
ish during September, When the British
gained most ground.
Tanks Effective Weapon.
This is due, according to the British
officers, to the superior power of the
British shell fire, the numbers of Brit
ish aeroplanes, the increased skill of
h British soldiers n the use of the
tanks. The British staff did not place
much reliance on those new contri-
vances They are only one of h In
ventions aiding the offensive against
modern Notifications that will be used
next spring, when the British are fully
prepared. Calculations as to the value
Of the tanks are hard to make, but
taking the average opinion of experts
at the front, these weird motor cars
CIV ~ iooS IA wv ANS al shS
reduction of strong points and machine
gun positions.
The offensive at every step proved
that no army can have too many guns
which will kill and demoralize an en-
envy with projectiles fired from a dis
lance from anywhere from 1000 to TO-
600 yards. The great value has also
been proved of portable machine guns.
Men posted in shell craters with these
Weapon have q formidable power,
whether their side is acting on the de-
fensive or offensive.
Not on ground gained or prisoners
or guns taken does opinion at the front
Of ceaseless fighting, every day bring
ing its lesson. Officers are always
using the word morale" which means
the spirit and team play an army puts
into its work. The British, after nearly
two years of stalling, nave been fight
ing week after week on soil taken from
their foe. Thus the British morale has
become the morale of attack. This
offensive has been the school of war
with death as tutor. BY fighting the
British new army learned to fight as
Grants army learned to fight at Shiloh
and McClellan's OIL the peninsula.
Before the grand offensive the Brit
ish staff and commanders, those few
professionals who were trained to di-
tCSt LAX iS5uiol olAhy ICoiACu uliS
their immense responsibility in send
ing All army trained in theory against
the experienced organization.
~ 1--WE have met the German staff, said
q British commander to the cores
pendent recently land assure you none
Of us are suffering from stage fright
these days. We thank the German
staff for what they taught us in the
days Of our unpreparedness and of late
they have been learning a few things
from u.s."
Young Officers Command.
Actual battle conditions have re-
vealed. as no theoretical tests could,
which officers are fit to lead. The
route to promotion Is to become sue
cessful in action. Generals in the
30s and 40s now direct the fighting in
the fields and battalion commanders
who are not yet 30 have ceased to be
uncommon.
The taking of Thiepval was the most
sentimentally important of the capture
Of any village, because 1t was part Of
that redoubtable first line where the
British failed to break through OH
July /. But the hardest fighting was at
such places as Guillemont, Delville and
Highwoods and al Pozieres and Mou-
quet farm where the struggle lasted
for weeks to gain the coveted ridge
which IL DOW entirely in British poses