The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-04-19
GERMANS DEPEND
ON MACHINE Guns
Inability to Transport Cannon
Thought 10 Be Reason
BY STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
OF the Associated Press.

BRlE FISH HEADOl AK EkS IN
FRANCE, April lo-lhe flcXibility OF
their trench communications and the ei-
icctlvencSS OF their machine guns are the
two elements ot deicu,c upon which the
Germans appear to be placing their
greatest reliance IN the present light
ing In effect the various elements OF
the more important defense trenches en-
able the German fighting line to SWING
upon double hinges so II pressed too
hard one pivot swings back IRON the
other In this manner much ground
can be yielded in series OF angular
crisscross rctircmer,s without the fight
ing front technically being broken
These trenches are known as switch
es and great system OF them is CON
nccted with the Hindenburg or SicG-
fried position It was undoubtedly with
these strategic switch lines m view that
Field Marshal Won liindenhurg recent
" declared that the German lines in the
west could not be broken.
Prisoners Do Digging.
The preparation and maintenance OF
the elaborate system requires an untold
amount Of labor, for each section OF
trench must have several belts OF wire
front Most OF the digging appears to
'Nayc Teen done by prisoners of war As
the German line falls back the diggers
also fall back 10 construct still more
trenches IN which the Germans may later
lind shelter.
Under this plan Of course Il would be
possible TO drive back the Germans to
the Rhine and they could still say the
line was unbrokeu Meantime the Ger
mans are employing more machine guns
than ever before in their attempt to
hold up the British infantry advances
As high as six or eight OF these ghast-
| " weapons arc now assigned 10 each
company on the front lin,, and they
undoubtedly constitute tho German. CT
! fort TO counteyact prcpondcrancc OF al
lied cannon The artillery however, re-
mains the great uuauSwcrabc argument.
Can't Move Guns.
Nowhere along the front do the Ger
mans longer attempt 10 keep mp with
! the allied increase in artillery. Eyen #
they had the guns thc GcrmanS lack
transport facilities 10 supply them.
Horses are extremely scarce. while the
motor trucks lack rubber tires and are
ineffective
Due to this the Germans are locating
their batteries more and more along the
railway linc in order to be certain OF
she'll supplies
! Although the weather continues afro
I oiouS, the arplaneS daily brave the
gales and snowqualls and carry on the
important work OF serving as the eyes
OF the army
Aviators Are Active.
Two airmen had new experienc,
yesterday They were forced to Lar with
in the German lines southeast Of Lens
neither the pilot nor the observer belnC
inquired. Realizing their positions ihey
SaNcd two machine guns rsAlhc
wrecked plane and drove of tS mr.
man patrols which attacked them. The,
held the ground until nlghiiall, wher
eventually they returned safely TO Their
own lines.
In addition 10 us thousands Of other
duties and activities, the British army i,
now endcavorlng 10 give the French
farmers every possible assistance IN get
ting their crops under way. \ bureau
has been established where farmers re
quirinc help register. Troops resting II
the neighborhood OF farms volunteer
their help and horses temporarily uu.
employed are len, for plowing and Other
farm duties Tractors also are oeca.
sionallv furnished Some OF the prn
oipal work consists IN retaining the
baulciields, filling up OF trenches anC
she'll holes and leNelng The ground