El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-22

duced the adoption OF the new form
ula for offensive tactics
In the first place. one OF the prin-
cipal defensive features OF the Hin
denburg line was the fosse, or tunnel.
running the whole length OF the sec
Ondary defensive position, with an
tennae running rearward at intervals.
This enabled the Germans to shift
and transport troops. munitions and
even light pieces underground.
Secondly. the condition OF the ter
rain over which the battle was 20 be
fought was such that IL was infinite
" better that IL be kept solid dry
and firm for the advance OF the at
lacking units, instead Of being
pounded TO a bog Of mud and slime
thousands OF shells
Thirdly. Il was OF the Utmost value
that the thrust should be a surprise
attack. as Il was well known that the
German high command believed
firmly that Sir Douglas IaiE's atten-
ton was concentrated On the Ypres
sector.
Fought on Field Picked b. Hindenburz
Gen BynE's victory was won on the
battlefield chosen by Won HindenburE
I lime" which bears his name IN Feb
ruary and March last As the Ger
man troops fell back they syste-
matically devastated the country,
Telling trees, blowing up whole for
ests, dynamiting villages and remov-
ing every crumb and vestige OF cover
Tor advancing troops from the map.
They left the zone of operations bare
and naked to the view Of their OBJ
servers on ridges in the rear, in cap
tive sausage" balloons and airplanes-
The British and French pushed for
ward their lines in contact with the
enemy and dug In and intrenched last
March when the German retreat
stopped at the Hindenburg line. pre-
pared months in advance and admir-
ably protected by barbed wire en-
tanglements on a scale never before
seen
During the early summer prelimi-
nary work was begun for the sudden
smash which materialized on NOvem-
Der 20. From points far in the rear
protected by sums Of VILLAGES de-
strOyed during the battle Of the SOM
me In the latter half Of 1916, and
from the cover Of woods and forests
which had sprouted new vegetation
despite the axes and hatchets OF the
retreatlng vandals. the tunnelers and
sand hogs" began their work.
Broad. Well Ventilated Subvvaya.
The underground routes leading to-
ward the front were no tOrturous sub
terranean passages with tiny, narrow
gage railways and little cars hauled
BY mules pulling a few shells 10 each
ANaAA= 4n1LEalQ LnEE were LAnEr large
well ventilated and lighted subWays.
with standard gage railways inside
and whole trains, propelled by cleo
tricitys carrying shells, food and other
munitions up toward the front.
Entire batteries of the greatest
guns ever used in history. as wen as
the gigantic trench mOrtars evolved
by position warfare, were sent for
ward by the underground routes. and
men in the trenches were relieved by
fresh divisions. who Travelled in style
on the subway trains. Later. on the
eve Of the attack, whole regiments OF
cavalry were sent through the tun-
nels on the heels OF the great tanks
that numbered through and held them
selves in readiness to start forward.
Breaks Into German Eden
It was no wonder that the German
units occupying the Hindenburg line
sectors opposite the front chosen for
the British attack, dubbed their line
Eden No British shelling bothered
-heu IN the daytime. and IL few
shells were lobbed over during the
night the enemy regarded IL as moth
ing more than the daily 'strafe." The
British had good reason for withhold
ing their artillery fire during the
months CO preparation.