South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-02

pons and methods, most of which
were introduced into modern war
fare by the Germans. These new
tactics and new weapons allow the
employment Of a minimum of men
with a maximum display of indivi-
dual initiative and intelligence,
which the average English and
French soldier possesses in higher
degree than the German common
soldier.
This is the secret of the success
Of all the recent allied attacks on
the Somme and the failure of the
Germans counter attacks TO regain
the lost ground. We have laid down
certain rules for attack and defence
which our men are capable of carry
ing through to the smallest detail,
whereas the Germans, with rules
that are doubtless as carefully
framed, find their men lacking in
that special initiative and indivi-
duality which are necessary. 1t is
the individual fighter who counts on
the western front today, not the
serried ranks advancing Zen masse.'
To the German the system is every
thing. He is therefore handicapped
in facing a foe that now has system
plus individuality and initiative.
The French infantry today have
reached the highest point of tactical
efficiency Of any troops engaged in
the war That is TO say, they have
brought the science of employing
each individual to the greatest pos
sible advantage. with a minimum
loss. Their losses on the SOmme
and in the later attacks on Verdun
have been extremely small.
Strength of Kaiser's BattaliOns
Reduced.
AS with the Germans. the gradual
reduction after two years of war in
the available reserves has led 10 the
increased substitution of material
for men and has allowed of re-
duction in the strength of battaliOns
which. instead of weakening their
fighting power, has materially in
creased it,
Every French army has now a
special school established behind the
lines in which instruction is given in
the new tactics and in the employ
ment Of new weapons. officers and
men are sent from battalions at the
front for a three months course at
one Of these schools The calm,
methodical manner in which their
education is completed in the midst
OF war is a remarkable example of
the thoroughness and efficiency of
the French nation. The result has
been a revolution i'm the fighting
efficiency Of the French infantry.
At first every French battalion
consisted Of roughly a thousand men
all armed with rifles and bayonets
divided into four companies with a
mitrailleuse section of two guns.
Now less than so percent Of the men
in a French infantry battalion even
carry rifles The remainder are
trained 10 use special weapons more
effective than rifles.
New Organization of French
Infantry.
Each battalion now consists Of
three companies Of infantry. and one
machine gun company with eight
mitraiIeuses. Each company is di-
vided into four platoons which are
IN turn divided into four sections.
Some Of the men carry automatic
rifles. others hand grenades. others
machine grenades and the rest rifles.
But all the men who still carry
rifles are also specialists in the use
OF one Of the other weapons. and
they drop their rifles and take the
place Of tho men VINO fall during ar
attack. Each section is under a
specially trained non-commissioned
officer
Each battalion also carries a
small one and half inch gun which
can be mounted by four men OF
/ dragged on q light carriage. This
weapon (one-half the size OF the
American held artillery gum has
/ been found extremely effective i'm
I dealing with the German machine
guns during an attack when the in
/ fantry have approached so close 10
the enemy that the heavier artillery
Z behind the infantry cannot safely Pc