Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-11-22
TIME KEEPERS Z.
OF'BATTLEAV
HARD WORKER
PROBABLY HARDEST LAB0RING or
FlCERS ARE THOSE TO WHOM ALL
DISPATCHES ABOUT BIG
DRIVE ARE RUSHED.

PARIS, Nov. 22.-Probably the hardest
worked officers at the field headquarters
of the allies on the wetsern front are those
responsible for keeping the time table when
the great "drive" is on. To these men are
rushed all dispatches from the firing line,
and their busy pencils mark the eact pro-
gress of each division or regiment, the new
changed position of each battery.
Careful scouting from kite balloons,
aeroplancs and by daring raids here and
there has established tho strength Of most
of hte enemy positions, and the artillery
is grouped here, scattered there, in order
10 max sure that by the end of the bom-
bardment every trench, redoubt and vii
lage is pounded out of effective resistance.
The cataract of shells pours on without
ceasing until tie hour appointed for the
advance. Prior TO this some skilful schcd-
ulilg of movements hast been carried out,
ard reserves, supports, food, water, and
ammunition ere on the road.
Each commander is given a sector of
enemy trench to rush, and the pace of his
work is fixed. There is little practical use
in bursting "A remnant of men through the
opposing lines, a. they would be enfiladed
by machine guns and rifles.
Progress is therefore fixed rather slower
thar the known obstacles will cause. and
a platoon finding an easy part of the en-
envy line may spend much of its days and
nights lying in shallow trenches, awaiting
the proper hour for another move. Else
,rh.ra rn,ia sc front lax-a ,,orsehoI
in a furry of shrapnel. There may be a
hidden trench or q barbed wire ~entancle-
ment which has been set in some hollow
oiu Of sight of the guns of the allies.
There may be a great crater so full Of
poison gas that even the masked helmet
left with all its delay made essential. At
each such check the attacking line must
pause until the whole front line of German
trenches is carried.
II is by telephone from the rear that the
reserve regiments ore moved TO the weakest
points. The mn with the time-toble have
not only to record the progress in the past,
the latest Of which they have news. but to
calculate the position Of a regiment some
hours hence, the time it may take to move
O battalion TO the actual fighting point,
though of course artillery move into action
sooner.
Then sometimes for hours there will be
no report from a certain regiment. Ii II
struggling for dear life, has lost its chief
officers, may even have been rduced to O
few parties fighting Independently at diff
trent parts of tn frnot.
The time table men take notice Of these
things, and take notice, too, of the enc
my's plans. They also may have time to re-
fercnt parts of the front.
Ii Is the steady Timetable ut genera
headquarters that has scored for the allies
many times in the past two years. One OF
the most notable instances was in the grca,
"drive" which has become known as the
battle of the Somme. When Pozieres held
up the advance, the whole line Of the allies
halted on orders based on the calculations
Of the time keepers. Ii was deemed better
To hold the advance for a brief time thar
TO present a ragged front through whicl
the enemy might force an army in counter
attack. The recalcitrant village was out
thanked. surrounded and then Smashed int,
subsection. After which the suspende,
general attack resumed its vigor and con
tinued success.