Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-06-12
Germans Now Subjected to
Haig's Guns Operated From.
High Ground Of MeSsines
Ridge,
HEAVY ARTILLERY IS
PRACTICALLY LIMITLESS
Strongest Teuton FortifiCa-
tons of Steel and Cement
Are Pounded to Pieces by
Gigantic Shells.


June II (by Associated Press Cor
respondent--While still further Ger
man counter attacks may be expect
ed from time to time, the battle
of Messines ridge may be said
to be ended. 1t stood out aS
a definite operation designed fol
have been planned in this particular
sector of the eastern front.
The taking of Messines ridge has
robbed the Germans OF the last COM
manding natural position they occu.
pied for so long opposite the British
lines Bapaume and Vimy and Mes
sines ridges as well as Monchy pla-
teau, five miles east of Arras, have
all been acptured by the British dur
ing the last three months, and this
has materially changed the military
situation on this front.
Held Strategic Points.
When the Germans chose what they
were pleased to term permanent lines
of defense in 1914 they occupied
these vantage points with a fore
knowledge of their strategic, tactical
and observation values as keen as
that possessed by any French military
student. The Germans had a thor.
ough familiarity with and details of
every square rod of French territory
over which they proposed to fight and
when flung back from the Marne, had
already selected the lines on which
their trench Notifications were to be
built.
1t is natural that the German COM
muniques and wireless press reports
should attempt to belittle the loss of
these positions, but the British who
have had to endure the handicap Of
lying under their direct observation
and fire for SO long time, make no
attempt to disguise the satisfaction
with which they now look to the fu-
ture and what it holds in store for the
Germans who at lase are virtually
the under dog.
Other Strongholds.
OF course, there remains the much
talked of Siegfried and Wotan lines,
with their various support systems Of
trench defenses. The Siegfried line
represents that portion Of the linden
hurg line between Queant and St.
quentin. The Hindenburg line be-
tween Queant and Arras has virtually
all been taken by the British; so the
Germans now call their principal line
of defense north of Queant the Wo-
tan line, formerly known as the Dro-
switch line.
North of Drocourt this line runs to
Montigny, thence west to Annay. and
Mi trnnnh nus tot, q
there. All these lines, however, lack
Germans possessed when In command
of the ridges.
All Yield TO Fire.
The enemy has endeavored to Off
set this with artificial strength in the
elaborate use of steel and concrete for
dugouts, machine gun emplacements
and supports for the covered COM
trenches. The victory of
Messines ridge. however, shows that
and steel strong points must
yield to the concentration of artillery
fire which the allies now are able to
bring to bear upon any given point.
The allies feel that they have
shown that the German military pow
er can be crushed, the only question
being the speed with which
this can be accomplished. This Is
where they say America can help
with their tremendous weight Of mep
and material and they are looking
forward to this help during the late
autumn and in the spring of 1918 and
.hus go confidently on.
How Success Must Come.
1t would seem that a victory must
D@ gained by a series of powerful
blows such as that delivered at Ar
ras on Easter Monday and at Mes
sines last Thursday. There is little
hope that modern warfare can ever
get wholly into the open, and no one
s deluded by such thoughts, for the
SIMPLE reason that a retreating army
,an dig faster than it's opponents can
advance. This is true certainly of
armies of nearly equal numerical
strength and where such vast bodies
" men and guns have to be moved
forward as in the battles of present
lay magnitude.
Germany made her great sweep in
% France when her opponents had
little with which to stop her. These
are changed now and each
,attle Is fought to gain certain defin- |
te positions. When these are taken
t remainss a matter for military
counsel as to whether the fighting
hall proceed on that front or wheth-
,r new blows be struck elsewhere.
Minor and subsidiary operations. of
course. may be in progress at several
points at the same time.
New Theory Of Warfare.
Last Thursdays battle may be TAX
N as typical of the new theory Of
1t was complete in itself
complete in action, complete in suc-
.ess. General Plummers army, |
which planned and conducted 1t. has
,een congratulated by Field Marshal
iaig. and takes a particular pride In
! tribute from very highly placed
french officer, who. after studying