Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-19
GERMAN FIGHTING LINE
Is SYSTEM Of SWITCHES
Much Ground Can BE Yielded, With
out Front Technically Being
Broken.
UNTOLD LABOR is INVOLVED
Each Section OF Trench Must Have
Several Belts of Barbed Wire.
Tcntons Employing More Machine
Guns Than Ever Before,
UNTOLD LABOR is INVOLVED

| From "A staff Correspondent Of the
Associated Press. J.
HR TISlI HEADQUARTERS IN
hcNibiiity Of their trench communica-
tions and the effectiveness OF their
machine guns arc the two elements of
defense upon which the Germans ap-
pear to be placing their greatest rell-
ance in the present lighting In cf-
feet. the various clements OF the more
important defensive trenches enable
the German lighting line to swing upon
double hinges. SO il pressed too hard,
one pivot swings back from the other.
In this manner. much ground can be
yielded in a series OF angular or criss-
cross retirements. without the fighting
front technically being broken.
These trenches are known as
switches. and "A great systom of them
is connected with the Iiindenburs or
Siegfried position. 1t was undoubtedly
with these strategic switch lines in
view that Field Marshal Won linden
burg recently declared that the Ger
man lines in the west could not he
broken
The preparation and maintenance of
told amount of labor, for each section
of trench must have several belts Of
wire front The Germans have become
so accustomed TO lighting behind
harbed wire that they would not think
now Of doing otherwise, il it can he
avoided. Most OF the digging appears
to have been done by prisoners of war
As the German lines fall back. the
diSgers also fall hack, to construct
stu more trench,s In which the Ger
mans may later find shelter.
MORE MACHINE GUNS
THAN EVER IN USE
Gnder this plan. Of course. 1t would
oe possible to drive hack the Germans
TO the Rhine, and they could still say
the line was unbroken. In the mean
time. the Germans are en nploying more
machine guns than ever before in their
attempt to hold up the British infan-
try advances.
AS high as six or eight of these
ghastly weapons are now assigned to
each company OH the front line. and
they undoubtedly constitute the Ger
man effort TO countcract preponderance
OF allied cannon. The artillery. how
ever remains the great unanswcrablc
argument.
That machine guns arc the real rcli.
ance OF the Germans. is shown by the
construction OF the famed IIindcnburG
lines. which are mostly salients. built
thus to permit the intensive use of
these weapons. Machine guns are be-
ing used largely in the defense of Lens.
Although tho weather continues
atrocious. the aeroplanes daily brave
the gales and snow squalls. and carry
on the important work Of serving
the eyes of the army. This work
is more important during an advance
than at any other time, and without
the loyal cooperation OF the planes
progress would surely be impossible
The airmen reflect the offensive spirit
Of the entire British lighting force
and carry out their task with daring
scif-sacriice. which will ever he one
OF the brightest chapters in tho history
OF the war
TWO ALLIED AVIATORs
HAVE NEW EXPERIENCE
Two OF >tbem had new experience
yesterday. They were forced to land
within the German lines south OF Lens
neither the pilot nor the observer being
injured. Realizing their position. they
salvaGed two machine guns from the
wrecked plane. and drove off two Ger
man patrols which attacked them
They held the Germans until the night
fail, when eventually they returned
safely TO their own lines.
In addition to its thousands of other
duties and activities. the British army
is now endeavorlng to give the French
farmers every possible assistance In
getting thor crops under way.