The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-31
The Nivelle Method.

| The Worlds Work makes an interest.
ing contribution to the discussion of the
question of whether or not the allies
can break the intrenched German line
and thus win the war
The assumption of military experts at
the beginning of the war was that in
trenched defenders possessed advantages
that made it impossible for an offense
to win by frontal attack. The common
estimate was that an attacker needed
three or four to one to overcome an in
Itrenched and well equipped enemy.
In the fall OF 1914 the trench lines
were established nearly as now. Nei-
Their side has been able to gain materi-
Tally. Thus the accepted doctrine of mil
itary science seems supported. But look
ing more closely at the various offensives
which have been attempted striking
tendency is discoverable.
| The first large offensive against an in
trenched lines was made by the Ger
mans along forty.mile front in the
neighborhood of Ypres. Possessed of SUI
perior strength, for two weeks the Ger
man effort was kept up The British
estimated that the attempt cost the Ger
mans five men to two by the allies. The
following May the Germans, using gas
for the first time, made second effort
in the same place. In spite OF initial
successes the Germans desisted when
they found their losses we're approx
mate two to one. AT Neuve Chappelle
and later at Loos and i'm Champagne the
allies took the offensive, but lost two
or three TO one. The axiom still held
good. Then in February OF last year,
making artillery concentration similar
to that which had broken the Russian
line along the Dunajec, the Germans at
tackled at Nerdun. 1t appears that the
losses were three to two in favor of the
defense. In July came the Somme at
tack, and although the first British losses
were heavy, it IL estimated that the OPP.
erations as whole entailed losses Of |
only eight to seven against the offense. |
Finally came the Nivelle attack on the |
Neriun front, and the loss was two to
one against the defenders.
So the offense, providing ii possesses
artillery superiority, has been gaining
on the defense. General Nivelie was able /
to reverse the former result. While it /
Is not possible to draw any absolute
from the last big collision,
for the Germans may have been sur
prised, it is possible to say that doubt
has been thrown on the validity of the
maxim that a frontal attack, with forces
anything like equal, is impossible
General Niyelle said following the cap
ture OF Douaumont and Naux: "The
test is conclusive. Victory il certain.
give you assurance" On the strength
IF the method of attack he had worked
put and applied General Nivelle was
made the French eommander-in- chief. 1t
5 no secret that artillery and munitions
n unheard of quantities are being heaped
Up by the allies, and that as soon as the
Weather permits the great experiment
will be made. That the allies will pos
ess marked artillery superiority seems
omitted by the Germans, even though
heir factories are being rushed to the
INIT. In front of Verdun, with loss OF
100 in two attacks. Nivelle inflicted
osses of $4,000 (l7000 in prisonersl and
this ratio can be sustained the de-
ense must ultimately be broken.
The purpose of giving the Nivelle
Method conclusive test is that which
makes talk at the present time irreIe-
ant. The allies propose to see whether
r not they can shatter the German
renches and then take possession of
hem by soldiers who advance at walk
nd carry no bayonets. { the effort
sils and the Germans are shown to be
ght in their reliance on the classical
xiom of war, then peace on the basis Of
stalemate is not unlikely next fall
ew York World.