Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-07-15
Energy to Defense.


ceasing artillery duel.
Energy to Defense.
In the infantry fighting the Ger
mans have also been placed under
terrible disadvantage, quite apart
from the heavier shelling they have
to endure. Thanks to the possession
of the strategical Initiative for
midable term that simply means the
allies are forcing the fighting and
compelling the Germans to devote all
their energies to defense-the allies
are able to attack when and where
they please. This means that they
can prepare as carefully and as long
as they like for an attack, and with
good luck. keep the Germans guess
ing until 1t is actually launched as to
the point of impact.
IF advantages are won by the at
tack that the Germans cannot afford
to lose, they are compelled to counter
attack to regain the lost positions.
Counter attacks under these circum-
stances are invariably extremely
costly. They have to be hurriedly
improvised, out of whatever troops
are at hand, and sent forward
quickly without proper planning or
COORDINATION, before the assailants
have had time to dig themselves In
or reorga nize the wrecked German po-
sitions. They Immediately come under
the massed fire Of cannon secretly con-
centrated over long period for the
very purpose Of supporting the Of
fensive and checking attempted re-
actions The counter-attacking troops
cannot he supported by ANYTHING like
similar weight OF guns, II the origi-
nal attack came as n surprise. Do
cause It takes time to mass guns
and counter attacks must be launched
at once II they are to succeed.
Die en- Masse.
These considerations explain most
of the fighting OF the past two months.
The British use their possession OF
the initiative to launch an attack on
a narrow front. They capture a posi-
ton. The Germans are forced, by
the need of safeguarding their line
and preventing other positions from
being enfiladed to counter-attacK.
They advance in dense masses and are
slaughtered by the waiting guns
Sometimes the counter-attacks sue
ceed, and then the people at home are
depressed. They read In bulletin.
"Our troops attacked at dawn ana
occupied the eastern slopes Of Blank
Hill. -Four determined counter-at-
tacks by elements Of three German
divisions were repulsed by our fire,
but towards evening a fifth attack
us to relinquish the ground
we had gained" They shake their
heads over their morning paper. And
1t Is quite possible that British gen
erals at the sayme time are chucklins
over their reports: for the bulletin
NAV mean that at cost of a thousand
men the British have shot down five
thousand Germans. The aim OF the
war at present Is not to take hills OF
towns. but to kill Germans.
Rea sons Apparent.
Take together, then. the allied SUI
periority. in the air, our increasing
margin in guns and shells, and the
advantage enjoyed by the allied in
fantry in attacking where and when
It chooses and provoking the enemy
10 unprepared and immediate counter
attacks, and the reasons for optimism
at the front become plain. Victory
as the soldiers believe. is only ques-
ton Of time Attrition Is wearing
down the German armies faster tnah
the British and French, and the allies
have a superiority In bayonets OF per-
haps five to four on the western front.
Brilliant Present.
Two years ago. Hindenburg Is re-
ported to have said, 'The German
army has brilliant present but no
future" Today he might admit that
the present Is no longer brilliant. and
the future more a minus quality than
ever. In all calculations as to coming
campaigns, both here and doubtless
on the enemy front as well. the pres
ence Of an American army In France
plays very large part. How Ions
II will take the United States to form
a striking force that can deal the
finishing blow Is not known, but that
II will be formed and used. II the
Eranch and British armies are not