Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-24

er whether their side 10 acting on the
defensive or offensive.
Not in ground gained or prisoners or
gums taken does opinion at the front
Law most emphasis after nearly four
months ceaseless lighting, every day
bringing its lesson. Omcers are always
using the word morale. which means
the spirit and team play an army puts
into its work. 1t is the thing which at
the end Of the 10th round Of 20-round
fight, when both pugilists are still
standing up well to each other, indi-
Gates the winner. The British. after
nearly two years Of stalling. have been
fighting week after week on soil TAX
en- from their foe. Thus the British mo-
rale has become the morale Of attack.
This offensive has been the school Of
war with death as tutor. AS one stan
oficer said: ST we had July 1 to do
over again we should accomplish the
same result with less loss" NJ
By fighting the British new army has
learned to fight as Grants army learn
ed to fight at Shiloh and McClellan's on
the peninsula.
The Responsibility
Before the grand offensive the Brit
ish staff and commanders, those FEW
professionals who were trained. to- d.
rect the small regular army. realized
fully their immense responsibility In
sending an army trained in theory
against the experienced organizations.
At that time one commander recalled
to the correspondent saying of Cen
eral Won Moltke that although the Ger
man as a soldier might not be better
than his enemy, the German army
would always win because of superb
or staff system. I'VE have met the
German staff said the same man re-
Gently, 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."
Actual Battle
Actual baltic -...uA..o..s .iave reVealeu
as no theoretical tests .uuiu, Wnicn Ga
ncers are mt to Leaf. l.lose VINO arr
not, however good fellows lacy are, I'M,
themselves transferred. Inc route &c
promotion has become success in action
Generals IN the tnlrties and forties nov
direct the lighting III the tield and bat.
TALON commanders who are not yet d,
have ceased to be uncommon. 10 the
correspondent the improvement in the
army week by week has been one of the
most interesting and evident features OF
his long stay at the front. The taking
OF Thiepval was the most sentimentally
important of the capture of any village
because it was part of that redoubtabl
first line when the British failed t.
break through in July. But the hardes,
fighting was at such places as Guillemont
Delville and Highwoods and at Poziere:
and Mouquet Farm, where the struggle
lasted for weeks to gain the coveted
ridge which is now entirely in British
possession. But the British officers think
only of the experience gained for the
future and keep repeating that word
morale.
A wounded British soldier sitting beside
the road recently said to the correspond.
emit: Maybe the time will come wher
only one Britisher and one German will
be left alive. If SO the Briton will be or
top
This is what the officers mean by
morale and explains why they Judge the
summers work of the new army in the
light alone of that word.