The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-12-13
TANKS GREAT MACHINES
WORK IN SMASHING THROUGH
LINE FEATURE OF WAR.
Lowered Casualty Lists.-Artillery
Would Have Required .
Days to Destroy.

The impression which existed in
the minds of many soldiers that the
British tanks were freaks of little
value as instruments of war is being
wiped out on account of the achieve
ments of the great army of these
mighty engines which broke through
the main Hindenburg line and car
ried the war miles into enemy ter
ritory. The work which the tanks
did that day and have been doing
since is one of the most striking
features of the war. 1t cannot be
said that they are alone responsible
for the tremendous victory won by
the British, for infantry, artillery
and cavalry have played their part.
Nevertheless, the tanks drove the
entering wedge, without which this
triumph probably would have been
impossible.
Through Barbed Wire.
In few hours they tore to shreds
lines of barbed wire, the demolition
Of which by concentration of artil-
lery would have required many days.
Furthermore, their employment made
possible the arrangement of the Sc
cret attack, which would have been
out of the question had the artillery
been brought into play.
The tanks have demonstrated fully
their power in saving the lives of men
and in conserving ammunition. The
casualties among the infantry which
followed the tanks into action were
exceedingly light. The correspondent
has heard that two battalions, for in
.stance, had only one casualty each,
and that another suffered the loss of
only three men, This is almost un-
precedented in an attack Of such mag
nitnde.
Casualties Light.
The casualties among the crews of
the tanks were very light on the
opening day, which is the only one
for which reports have thus far been
received. 1t is impossible to state
how many tanks were in action, but
there were several hundred, and out
of all the men who went forward in
them it appears that less than twenty
were killed and less than 100 wound
ed. Many of these casualties were
due to the fact that the men left the
tanks to perform their work in the
open, where they, came under the fire
of ssnipers.
The performance of the tanks was
the more remarkable because there
was only short time to prepare for
their use. Some of the tanks had
never been in an engagement before
and the crews lacked actual fighting
experience. Moreover, it was neces-
sary to train the infantry to CO.
operate with them.
In addition, a great amount OF
work was done to get the tanks into
position and bring forward their
fuel. Many hundreds of tons of Pc
ctral were brought up secretly and
stored pending the attack. 1t was
done so quietly that few soldiers in
the territory involved knew what
was proceeding.
The advance of tanks, with their
general leading the way in monitor
flying his flag, was the most impress
i've sight Imaginable For miles they
were lined along the British front,
and when they started forward it was
like a great ceremonial parade. Back
Of them came the infantry, giving the
final touch to the picture.
Tanks have been engaged in some
bitter fighting since they entered the
enemy territory. The stiffest fight
ing was at Lateau wood, south OF
Manieres. There the tanks engaged
a number of German field and heavy
guns and won the day against them.
One tank deliberately charged a 3.9-
inch gun and cleaned out its crew
with it's machine guns.
cataing fell before one tank. 1t
charged into the village, making 1t
untenable by the vigorous action OF
it's guns. Twelve tanks led the way
into Marcoing.
: At Ribecourt the tanks arrived just
as the Germans were sitting down to
hreakfast The crews of the tanks
got their morning meal from the 1000
prepared for the enemy.
Killed by Brothers Gun.