The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-09-14
OUR men DON'T
LIKE TO ''DIC IN
Troops In France Can't EnthusG
Over MOIGliks Tactics.
PROBLEa FOR THE OFFICERS
Passion For Digging In Is So Strong
With Germans That They Have Been
Known Desperately to Claw Holes In
Ground With Hands Until Ends of
Fingers Were Practically Worn OFF,

Fingers Were Practically Worn Off.
One of the greatest problems Ameri-
can officers have before. them ia i'm
pressing upon their men the absolute
importance Of learning the best ways
of keeping under cover. The ..Ameri-
can soldier is not natural digger
in He is much like his Canadian
brother in arms in that respect, for it
is an old saying on the British front
that Canadians will die in the last
ditch, but never dig 1t.
1t is the American spirit, as it was
that of the Canadians, to stand up and
fight, but the world war has long since
passed that stage. and now la the long
wear and worry of a struggle Of attri-
ton the best commander is the one
who best conseryes his men by keep
ing them under cover
One of the great reasons why the
Germans still are in France and Bel
GUM is their wonderful facility for
digging themselves in They have
perfect passion for it. and an incentive
as well. for the allied artillery never
ceases to pound them day and night.
Can't Enthuse Over Shovel.
The German belief that they can dig
faster than modern army can adj
vance is one of tile principles of their
defensive tactics Notwithstanding all
that has been told along this line. not
withstanding the heroic efforts to rouse
his enthusiasm over the pick and SHOW
ell the American soldier has remained !
decidedly lukewarm He came to /
France to fight the Germans, he says,
and not to dig hole and look at them !
through spyglass. The French,
Canadian and Australian soldiers all !
resent the idea of digging in and would
not admit the necessity of doing SO I'M
til bitter losses taught them dearly
bought lesson.
II is purely a matter of temperament,
and there seems TO be no doubt now
that only actual battle experience will
convince American soldiers that the
ability to take advantage of any bit of
cover is one Of the greatest assets the
luOuclu man Ut aims Cuu nave.
cit seems shame to have to curb !
the fine fighting spirit of our traops,'
said an American training OF but
the men must be made &c understand |
as far as possible that iJnpetuosity |
must be subordinated to steadiness. /
This has become a time clock r.
The men must advance in given time
and go. no farther Every step in
fantry advance must first be worked |
out with the artillery, and when the |
plan is arranged it must be strictly ad-
hered to-
The natural fighting man, 1t seems, |
has natural antipathy to digging in.
Even in these late months OF war Brh-
ish Tommies would much rather remain |
above ground and stand chances Of get
ting killed by shells than to dig the
deep dugouts so adored by the Germans.
In planning the battle Of Messines !
Ridge, which was a model Of clean cut |
victory. the British commander took
into account the fighting mans point of !
view, and when the advance had reach
ed stage where 1t gave the British
covered high ground the fighting men
were directed 10 take a rest, while spe-
cially organized labor battalions we're
rushed up from the rear to do the neces-
sary digging and consolidating OF new