The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-09-21
DEFENSE
is WEARING DOWN
What Nothing of Importance to Re-
port on Western Front" Means is
Told by Staff Correspondent of
Associated Press.

With the British Armies in France
and Belgium, Sept. 17.-There must
always be periods of Comparative"
quiet, when big, spectacular ~offensives
are lacking on the great fighting front.
The recent days have constituted one
of those periods along the British line
in the western theatre and to the out
side world, reading the commander-in-
chiefs laconic 'there is nothing of
Importance to report" or a brief ac-
count of the seemingly inconsequential
raids, it may appear that hostilities
virtually have ceased.
But the conclusion is far from right,
for the grim business of war continues
perpetually. Hourly the big British
guns hurl their thousands of tons of
metal, carrying death and destruction
into the German ~defenses; Jay and
night great squadrons of aviators
guide their machines over the German
lines and dump their cargoes of high
explosives on important positions and
continually small bodies of British
infantry are reaching out into German
trenches and snatching back prisoners
after playing havoc with bombs among
the dugouts and mortar emplacements.
Of course there is retaliation by the
enemy, but the advantage rests with
the allies in this constant hammering
process. 1t is the steady dropping Of
water which is wearing away the
stone.
The terrible toll of death being ex-
acted from the enemy ranks by the ar
tillery and the continual drainage of
their war supplies by the destruction
caused by shells and bombs are hav-
ing their effect. The German wall of
defense is still strong, but is weaker
than it was, and sooner or later must
crumble, if the allied methods of wear
ing down are continued. 1t needs no
military expert to figure this out. Ev-
cry Tommy along the line is aware OF
it. Persons far removed from the war
zone, perhaps, do not consider militia
ry situations from an abstract point of
view often enough. That is, they con-
ceive prorress OILY when sone city
has fallen or an advance has been
made over a great stretch of territory
and thousands of prisoners have been
taken. Certainly these big operations
appeal to the imagination, but, in re
viewing them, one should not overlook
the inestimable value of the grinding,
killing process which never ceases.
This process has been continued by
the British steadily since the recent
big offensive. The artillery has kept
up an almost unceasing thunder along
the whole front, and air raids ana
thrusts by the infantry have been
working great destruction in the en-
envy territory.
Last nights infantry raids are ex-
amples of the work being done, much
of which is never published to the out
side world. English and Scottish reg
iments about midnight conducted three
successful raids. East of Gavrelle,
several prisoners were taken and a
large number of the enemy killed, five
big dugouts were bombed to pieces
and two saps destroyed. A similar
success was achieved south of Arras.
several dugouts being demolished and
a number of trench mortar emplace-
ments wrecked, besides other damage
done.
The British air service still mainta-
ms supremacy, and the big raiding
machines have been doing vast dam
age. One of the spectacular air incl
dents occurred yesterday when a Brit
ish biplane dispersed 1000 enemy in
fantry by turning its machine guns on
the men along one of the highways.