Baxter Springs news., 1917-09-20
English Expert Tells Of the Sud-
den Assaults on Ever-Alert
Germans.
new SCIENCE IS DEVELOPED
Purpose 10 to Shake the Morale Of the
Enemy and Mako Him Uncertain
% 10 the Next object Of
Attack.

hOuuOu.-1uo IIcuCu Eulu, OuO VI
che developments Of the European war
ls the subject Of an Offcial interview
with q British officer. which has beeI
approved by the British press bureau
The narrative of this officer is OF
particular interest at this time wheI
the Americans are soon to 60 into tn
trenches to he called upon to carr!
out. among other things, just sucl
raids as are here described.
"The trench raid Is made for tn,
purpose OF shaking the enemy's moi
ale. inflicting losses upon his person
mel and destruction upon his works
and capturing prisoners and docu
ments that may reveal his condition
and intentions. Carried out chiefly al
night, at frequent intervals and al
many places, II exercises dlrest effect
upon the enemy's nerves. Since 10lt
its constant practice has been the pol
icy OF the British command. Cap
tured German letters bear ample wit
ness to Its efficacy. We will attempt
to sketch q simple form Of such q
raid.
For some days previously the field
artillery has been methOdlcally cut
ting lanes through the enemy's wire at
many points. An attack may or may
not be pushed through these lanes.
The enemy cannot be sure. In any
case he cannot decide which Of the
points Of passage will be used. Pune
tually at zero hour the artillery hurls
q barrage on the enemy's support and
reserve trenches, while an inferno OF
explosions breaks out all along the
line Of trench to be assaulted-the
bOmbardment Of Stokes mortar and
trench howitzer batteries posted In or
near our front line. Under cover OF
this bombardment the raiding force
rushes the intervening space.
How the Raid Begins.
''This raidlng force is organized in
squads Of eight men and one nOncom-
missiOned officer. In each squad are
two bomb-throwers. two bayonet men.
two rife bOmbers and two ammunition
carriers, who are also reserve throw
ers. Each squad has its objective
clearly assigned to It prior to the at
tack. In q smother of smoke the raid
ers leap into the trench. Flames shoot
up, shedding a CHASTITY glare. High
among them the red signal rockets OF
the Germans are drifting across the
night, but the barrage they summon
comes too late. To right and left, as
detailed, the squads turn along the
trench-nOw probably broken-walled
ditch filed with loose earth, blocked
by wrecked traverses, strewn with
sand bags and the bodies Of men. In
front, peering round the traverses, dart
ing forward, keeping the survivors OF
the enemy on the run, are the two
bayonet men Of the squad. 1mmedi-
ately behind them Is the first throw
err his acolyte the carrier following
close. Then follow the officer, the
nOncommissioned officer In charge OF
the squad. Behind them Is a rife
bomber, ready II necessary to fire his
grenades In advance Of the bayOnet
men. In the rear Of him are the 9TH
er thrower. his carrier and the other
rife bomber.
"The ideal aimed ut is to so press
upon the enemy that he cannot dare
to stand-Our bayonet men are upon
him ere he can dare to throw or shoot.
But there comes a time when the en-
emy 'handgranatentrupp' has assem-