Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-16

turnal activities behind the temporary
line. Most of the new trenches are mere
ly emergency defenses built at angles
with a view to giving cover to machine
guns. with which the Germans hope to
delay the British advance until further
work can make the rear defenses tenabie.
1t is now stated that no part of the
Eindenburg line was expected to be COM
pleted until the end OF April. despite the
claims that the recent western retirement
has been entirely according TO Germa?
plans.
German Efforts "Amusing"
Where the Germans still hold their old
position north of I.oos the slightest move
ment by the British sends them into a
panic. Flares and signal rockets of all
colors spring from their trenches. Bombs
are cast into No Mans Land; trench NOR
tars set up a defensive barrage and ar
tillery help is frantically called for.
Some of the German flares and lights
are most amusing as well as spectacular.
Their latest star shells have a parachute
attachment and hangs suspended In the
air for a long time, lighting up the sur
rounding country for several hundred
yards. They break into three balls. and
the British soldiers call them pawn
brokers'"
Report Captured
The Germans in the front line have
long ben worried by the inferioritv of
their artillery TO that Of the British.
A recently captured report makes COM
plant that the artillery often fails to
answer the call ( rohelp anJ continues:
For our infantry, which in the Somme
battle has ben on the defensive, IL is
from tie point Of view Of morale of
Importance to be able to count upon
artillery support Infantry that comes
to regard itself merely as a target for
the hostile artillery must in the long
run given "A prompt and effective
reply to hostile shells has a recuper-
ing effect IN thme morals of the most
difficult situation"
Germans Depressed
Conditions within the German limos
Just prior tc the battle of Arras and
the depressed state of MANY of The car
mar soldiers are ]eloquently described
IN translated extracts from letters cap
tured during the recent fighting. Two
letters IN particular. both written nv
BaVarlans in regiments opposite Ar
fas are wonderfully impressive. One of
thcm indicates clearly the dishearten-
ing efect the entry Of the Tnited
states into the al has had. 1t is dated
April S and reads:
we now have a very bad position
at Arras. where we have been under q
continuous hurricane of fire for ,siv
Gays. The English at times fire pas
shells, which are not exactly pleasant
hen everything imaginable is turned
against one. one cannot stand it. then.
1t is all over. The sights around one
are simply cruel; it is enough to drive
n mad.
1T is no longer a righteous cause.
OF that l am convinced. But one al
ways begins to hope again and think
that it must come to an end. But it is
possible. The world is still in too
mac a state. We arc the tools and al
low ourselves to he laborcd.
Now America comes in to make it
last longer. Everybody wants to chip
in. l believe it will never end: peace
will W return to the land"
The second letter. dated Easter.
which was the day before the British
attack began. tells how unwelcome to
the Germans have been the weapons of
their own invention when turned
against them.