The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-02-17
MANY DROWN IN MUD CHURNED Up
BY SHELLS ON THE BATTLEF|ELDS
Modern Shell Fire Creates Pob EN- Such as No Army in History
Ever Had to Contend Wth-Ariey Smashes Trenches to
f.. Mud and Pup-Great Strategy Has Disappeared and
Tactics Have Become Commonplace.

Q
awe-inspiring display of pyrOtechnics
the world has ever seen.
The war alone is interesting as a
study Of the psychology Of peoples,
and how that psychology changes in
the fierce heat Of the SOmme melting
pot. Grand strategy has disappeared :;
altogether tactics have become COM
| mOnplacc. and no mind can now turn
victory into defeat by an inspired
decision at the decisive hour. Any
tyro Of the 1916 class after he has
spent few weeks in the front line
knows how 10 take the iOta of pull
verified rubbish in his immediate front
just as well as Joffre or Haig or Hin
denburg.
Victory Depends on Guns.
All have learned that victory depends
on heavy guns and unlimited ammu-
milton. Germany appreciated the value
Of heavy guns in the field before the
war. She was plentifully supplied
with S-inCh. Pinch and 16-inCh how
tiers. Other general STATS did not
consider ii feasible to drag along this
monster ordnance with armies. Thus
we suffered heavily at the start, es-
pecially the French. who relied ex-
clusively on their superb 70 quick fir
ing field gun. For the last two years
there has been a giant race in gun
production. Now the allies have not
only Overtaken, but have got long
way ahead Of the central powers.
Our superiority on the SOmme was
the most noticeable, and this, combined
with our air-supremacy. rendered the
position Of the Germans, at times,
almost intolerable. They were not so
short Of guns. perhaps. as Of ammuni-
ton. In August, September and Octo-
Der, three separate general orders
were found on the dead or prisoners
from different generals commanding
groups Of the army pointing out the alb
solute necessity of outstanding the
ammunition supply and to take greater
care Of the material itself.
The allies have not thus been handi-
capped. The Germans are busy aug
menting their material and ammuni-
ton so as to compete this spring and
summer on more even terms. There
are acres Of heavy guns along the
Somme front.
Imagine what task IL Is getting
these guns to their positions. The
roads leading to the SOmme front can
not bear the weight of the traffic.
They have disappeared into the mud.
and have TO be constantly repaired.
The French have built miles Of light
railways. These monster 11-inch and
Pinch and 16-inch guns can only be
brought up on trains. Some Of them
are placed in fixed positions. Others
have a rowing mission and are fired
from the rails on anchored trucks by
an ingenious arrangement. The roar
Of the artillery is so terrific that 1t
produces nervous prostration In many.
Gst No Respite.
The unfortunate infantry In the
trenches get no respite from II night
and day. I often have heard men say:
81 don't mind the enemy's shells so
much; what | cannot stand Is the noise
Of our own guns"
On your way to the front you get
blown about from side to side by the
terrific blasts.
Some of the big shells which hurtle
through the air on the Somme front
weigh a ton and half. They can be
thrown 10 miles. Throughout the
night and day, without ever a respite
the air is filled with these steel mon
sters varying In weight from Is pounds
to over a ton. What chance has the
poor infantryman got? A very poor
one.
Yet, with millions in the field, when
you are actually on the battlefield you