Norwich bulletin., 1917-10-03
HoME,READNG COURSE FOR CITIZEN SOLDIERS
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les and throwing up breastworks for protection against the enemy's fire Is, | of course not new ta1ns % in- -waarar@. le., l a much bigger scale than ever before ! A complicated network of trenches now protects tie men on both sides. The spade has become the soldiers s best weapons of defense.
 In seeking protection against heavy artillery fire a very interesting de- velopment has taken place. This IS the use of various devices for con- cealing field guns and troops from the view of enemy airplanes. Sometimes trees are brought up and planted near the object to be hidden. Sometimes | ing spread over it which is painted to l look from above like grass or earth For the same reason tents may be painted in greens and yellors.
 The chief improvement in methods | of defending entrenched troops is the chine guns must be put out Of op- eration by artillery fire or by rifle fire directed against the gunners before in fantry can advance directly against them There has been also a great in- crease during the present waG in the use of barbed wire in front Of the trenches as q means of defense. Sim1- l lar devices have been used in en- trerched positions for many years, but never on so large a scale. Through their use it is now known to be possi- ble to defend the front line positions with smaller bodies of men than were considered necessary during the earlier years of the war, thus considerably reducing the. strain on the individual soldier
 Development of kirpIanes.
 The chief new instrument o war fare developed during the present war is the airplane. As previously ex- plained, it is used for scouting, direct iTne scouting machine is usually equipped with large camera which takes a series of pictures. When these pic lures are developed and compared day by day they gave invaluable infor- mation as to the exact location of troops. guns. and supplies. The scout ing and bombing machines are usually protected by swift fighting machines Airplanes have also been used at times to desecend close to the ground and fire from machine gun upon bodies of troops.
 Another very interesting and prom ising device is the "tank"-a heavily armored machine % constructed that it can advance unGser it's own power over almost any obstacles, and thus lead an attack on enemy trenches. It is motor cars have also been used ef fectively under some conditions.
 Tn the front line trenches men are often armed not only with rifle and bayonet, but also with bombs which can be thrown by hand or by machine. ordinary lemon. Many men become extraordinarily expert in throwing these small bombs into enemy trench es., They even become expert in pick ing up enemy bombs before they ex- plode and throwing them back.
 Another weapon of the trenches in troduced by the Germans, in spite of international agreements to the con- trary, is poisonous gas. This was at first very effective. since no defense against it had been prepared. At tEs presentD time. Fsowever. each man in or near the front carries a gas mask which enables him to meet an attack of this kind without serious injury.
 Wonderful Staff Organizations.
 Back of the lines the organizations of the staff branches of the service has been enormously extended. Rail- roads are constructed up to within a short distance of the front. Transport of supplies and ammunition by motor trucks has been organized on a big scale. The medical departments have also made notable gains in methods of trN Nating wounded men, with the re- suit that a very large percentage re- cover. Even in the early months of the war it was announced that of the wounded actually treated in French hospitals 54.5 per cent. were return l
 
 cent. were sent home to complete the recovery: Is per cent. were unfit for 1 further service: 2.5 per cent. had died from the effects of their wounds. l
 There is probably little basis for the | idea that the number of casualties in i this war is any greater, in proportion to the number of men engaged in pre- vious wars. Tn the French army dur ing the last six months of 1916 (whichI included three big offensives) the to- tai losses in killed, wounded, and l prisoners are officially reported to have | been only 1.2S per cent. of the French | forces under arms.
 One of the striking features of the | war is the proof thaat has been given | of courage and devotion to duty on tue | part of men of all nations. As sol- | diers we must honor and strive to em- | ulate the heroic bravery of those who | are fighting the battle of democracy | and freedom As soldiers we must | recognize also the skill and courage | of the enemy, even though they are shown in a bad cause. Nothing is gained by belittling the enemy. It is | our place rather to see to it that we develop among ourselves a still higher [ degree of the intelligence, spirit te- | nacity, and se1f-reliance which alone