Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-19
WAR ON WESTERN
FRONT BEGINS NEW,
MAYBE LAST, PUSH
Beginning With Open Fighting,
Germans Later Took to
TrencheS-NoW They Use
Method Indicating a Rout

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FLANDERS. Oct. 1s.-The war on the
western front today has entered a new
phase-and probably its Lass.
The lighting there is as iifferen! now
from what it was in 1914 aad 1875 a.
IL could possibly be.
First there was open warfare-when
the Germans swept over Belgium and
rance. Second, there came trench fight
ing. which SLOWLY developed until the
taking of single trench was an opera
ton as big Waterloo. Now one sees
practically open country battles with
the enemy engaging in a sort of rear
guard action, which, when fully expand
ed. will mean a Prussian rout.
Only the sudden collapse of hostin-
ties can prevent this curtain on the
kaisers three-act drama.
Not since the crown prince burned
his eaglet feathers against Verdun more
than year ago have the German armies
dared real offensive on the western
front. Since the Somme, Hindenburg
has been openly on the defensive, and
the present methods of lighting are the
direct outcome of that generals CROP
ings to find a means to hold out
HINDENBURG LOSING HIS PUNCH
The Somme battles were a series of
storming operations-the taking of
trench systems that stretched for miles
in veritable mazes of supporting cuts
and channels. So long as Hindenburg
believed he might still break through
the allies line. he continued this trench
warfare. He kept his front lines full
of men. Tens of thousands of his troops
were killed before he awoke to realiza-
tlon that he was losing his punch. Hin
denburg dug the trenches and dugouts
deeper-often thirty or even fifty feet
below ground. But his men still died
like rats in traps when British Tommies
threw Mills bombs down the dugout
openings or rolled charges of high ex-
plosives down the almost perpendicular
stairs.
In the fire trenches. where linden
burg kept troops standing shoulder to
shoulder to repel attacks, allied shells
tore whole companies to shreds. While
the great German tactician blundered on.
British and French guns Numbered and
the superb German labyrinth of trenches
became an appalling shambles.
At last Hindenburg saw a light. The
offensive wes no longer his. He must
fight henceforth a defensive war. The
famous retreat on the Somme last win
ter was step No /. He abandoned his
once precious IreHCneS, now OcCOHlc
hell-hole Uttered with the purifying
corpses of German youths.
Hindenburg's next step was observed
during the battle of Arras in April. His
trenches were still there, but now thin
ly manned. The bulk OF troops were
kept in support trenches hundreds Of
yards behind.
TROOPS ARE SCATTERED.
But his plan was still faulty and later
at Messines, in June, German troops
were more widely scattered. Machine
guns were no longer fired from trenches,
but from special, isolated posts. Also
trench mortars. And specially trained
counter attacking troops were held in
readiness to charge the tired British as
soon as detectives had been won.
But the British got on just the same,
and Hindenburg began to lose faith in
trenches. July 81, beginning the bat
tie of Flanders, found the Germans still
differently disposed
They were occupying not trenches SO
much as concrete she'll holes, two or
three linked together with shorl tunnels
Pill boxes"-steel and concrete turre-s
" hose nude overed tops were just above
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