Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-11
LOSS OF;MESSINES RIDGE
BAD BLOW TO GERMANS
Last Commanding Natural Position Occupied by Them
for So Long Time Opposite British Lines-Much-
Talked-Of Segfred and Wotan Lines Remain

DlowS, Such as that delivered at Ar
ras on Easter Monday. and at Mes
shines last Thursday. There is little
hope that modern warfare can ever
get wholly into the open. and no ono
is deluded by such thought for the
simple reason that a retreating army
can dig faster than its opponents can
advance. This Is true certainly OF
armies OF nearly equal numerical
strength. and where vast bodies of men
and guns have to be moved forward.
as In tho battle OF prescnt-day mag
nitude.
Germany made her Great sweep into
France when her opponents had little
with which to stop ner. Those condi-
tons are changed now and each bat
tie is fought to gain certain definite
positions When these are taken. 1t
remains Il matter for military counsel
as to whether tho fighting shall pro-
coed on that front. or whether new
blows shall be struck elsewhere.
Minor and subsidiary operations. OF
course. may be In progress at several
points at the Same time.
Last Thursdays battle may be taken
as typical of the new theory OF war
fare. 1t was complete In itself-com-
plete in action, complete in success.
General Plumer's army, which planned
and conducted It, has been congratu
lated by Field Marshal Haig. and
takes a particular pride in n tribute
from a very highly placed French Of
ficer, who. after studying the plans and
witnessing the action. said:
This ia a model of what a modern
attack should be-"
BRITISH PLANS ATTAINED
AT MINIMUM COST
Tho correspondent saw all the battle
maps and heard a detailed exposition
by the army staff the day before the
battle OF just what would be attempted.
and what II was hoped TO accomplish.
Several new ideas were embodied both
as to lighting and as to Inner control
Of the operation. Not a single hitch
occurred and it can he stated that the
ultimate British plans were attained
at minimum cost. Not the least OF
these plans was to inlict great loss
upon the enemy. If the usual COM
putations as to casualties held good
in this battle, the taking Of moro than
1000 prisoners meant a total OF killed
or wounded four or five times greater
10000 or more.
One Of the most gratifying features
OF this latest victory was the secret
OF the vast operations. which had been
in progress for nearly two years. some
in n firing position for fully twelve
months
Any further Commentaries the Ger
mans may attempt will prove costly
for them. for the British in w!o!ng
out the wytschaete salient have short
ened their line bv at least oH"-,htrd
in this sector and have. therefore.
still greater concentration OF possible
artillery fire upon the new straight
line than upon. the wide sweeping
curve OF the old position.
INTERESTING LETTERS
TAKEN FROM PRISONERS
Many interesting letters have been
captured in the recent lighting. The
following is taken from an unposted
letter written by man OF the Fourth
German Grenadier Regiment from the
trenches attacked on Thursday:
"Sincc April % am in the trenches
near Ypres. whore an offensive is now
taking place. The drumhre has shot
everything to little bits: there Is al
most nothing more of the trenches TO
see Up TO now I have escaped with
my life but we have had terrible losses.
Half OF my company are dead or
wounded. It is terrible life; 1t Will
soon be unbearable. lie is best off
! who gets bullet and need no longer
knock about.
1.-The Ehglishman blows everything
to hits he can see. He bombards
everything. He bombards every dis
trict up to ffteen kilomcters behind
the front. He has also blown our
kitchen to pieces. so we don't get any
warm food. only dry stun"