Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-07
FEW GERMAN DIVISIONS
UNsCORCHEO BY FLAMES
Endcavor to Meet Allied Superiority
in Artillery by Sheer Weight
OF Men.
COST MUST BE I'RIGHTFUL
How Long These Tcuton Soldiers
Can Endure Whitening Biast OF
Gunfirc, Which Is Ever Upon
Them, Is Matter OF Conjecture.

WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
FRANCE May q (via LondoD While
the lighting for tho last fortnight has
wrought comparatively little change,
geographically along the British front.
IL has. as matter OF fact, been of al
most as great Importance AS any dur
ing the entire war. IT has compelled
the Germans to throw in such vast
numbers of reserves that compare
lively few Of the fifty or more fresh
divisions assigned TO the western
front this year Ivy Field Marshal Won
iindcnburg remain unscorched by the
flames of the French and British offcn-
SiVe battles. In view of this il is
small wonder that the press reports
from TctroErad assert that German
divisions have been Withdrawn from
the Russian front and started for
France.
There is no denying that since the
British Easter Monday offensive took
them by surprise. and drove them from
some of their most formidable posi-
tons. the Germans have fought with
great tcnacity and stubbornncss. but
at what cost they alone can correctly
reckon. They have cndcavo TO meet
the cntcntc allied superiority in artil-
lcry by sheer weight Of men, which
has meant material deepening of
their fortified zone Thus. when one
line or men has hccn swept away
there Is another and yet another How
long such tactics can continue. how
long the German soldiers can endure
the whitening blast OF artillery which
lis ever upon them. Is purely matter
of conjecture
MEN or LIVING WALL
nEHTSD BARRIERS OF DEAD
German military writer's have been
referring Of late to the Iiindcnburg
line as a living, mobile wall. which. by
means OF it's various switch lines, can
bend backward ana forward. as if NOV
ing on so many hinges. Now, however
inc men OF the living wall are lighting
behind great barriers OF their dead.
The Germans, in fact. seem To bc
carrying out their defensive battles
win tho same unshakable belief i'm
the power of mass that characterized
'heir irst onslaught upon the forts on
'he belgian frontier and, later. their
futile offensive against verdun.
The British assaulting lines in the
recent iishtinG. thanks to the over
whclming weigh, Of The artillery b.
hind them. have been nothing like the
strength of the German defending,
troops. Similarly. the Germans h.ve
delivered their countcrattacks with
FORCES often outnunbering threcfold IN.
BRUSH holding the positions upon
which the attacks were directed. The
Germans had to make these counter.
attacks across the open. under the very
eyes Of the British field guns. and the
losses entailcd have been visibly
enormous.
1t is not possible TO visit Il battery
IN the ArraS sector without hearing
or the wonderful shooting they have
had OF late. There has been nothing
IKE 1t since the war began so far AS
the British are concerned and the
Khaki runncrs feel that they arc pay-
ing off many old scores OF the carly
days when the German artillery domi-
mated and there was not "a singh.
high -calihcr British cannon on the
Continent.
W0NDEHEIL CO-OrEI,ATION
OF AiHrLANES AND GUNS
The cooperation OF the ;irplanes
I'm Ia