South Bend news-times., 1917-09-14


and planted near the object 10 we
hidden. Sometimes me gun or
other object has an awning spread
over IL which is painted TO loJa
from above like sra~s or earn. Scr +:
the same reason tents May be-
painted greens and yeIIov,s
The chief Improvement in meth
DDS of defending ertrencheJ troops
is the Increased use OF machine
guns. Machine guns must be pat
cut cf operation by arullery fire cor
ty rifle 1re directed acainst the
summers before infantry can a6-
vance directly against them. There
ads been also a great increase dur
ug the present war i'm the use OF
bari ed wire In front OF the trench
es as means of defense Sim-
lar devices have been used in en-
trenChed positions for many years
but never on so large scale
Through their use IT, is now knoSn
10 uc possible 20 defend the front
line positions with smaller bodies
OF men tran were considered nee
essary during the earlier years Of
the war, thus considerably reduc +
iuS the strain on the individual
soldier.
Development OF AhpIapcs.
The chief new Instrument of war
fare developed during the present
war is the airplane. As previously
explained, il is used for scoutir-,
directing gunhre, and droppins
bombs. The scouting machine is
usually equipped with large
3 camera which takes a series of
pictures. Wneu these pictures are
developed and compared day 10y
+ day they give invaluable informa-
! tiOn as 20 the exact location Cf
troops, guns, and supplies. The
scouting and bombing machines arc
usually protected by swift fighting
ma, hines. Airplanes have also
+ been USED at times 10 descend close
TO the ground and are from a m1- /.
chine sun upon bodies of troops.
Another very interesting and 4
promising device is the "tank"-a
heavily armcred machine so con- I:
structed that il can advance under Il
its own power o-er almost any L
obstacles. and thus lead an attack
on enemy trenches. 1t is armed
with machine guns. ArmoreG moor
| cars nave dI>O Detn useU eIGC- .
lively under some conditions
In the front line trenches men
are often armed not only with :
rifle and bayOnet. but also with
bombs which can be thrown 10y
hand or by machine. Some OF
them are no lar-er than an orCi-
nary lemon Many men become :
extraordinarily expert in throwing
tn"se small bombs into enemy
trenches They even become expert
in picking uu enemy bombs before
they explode and throwing them
back
Another weapon e the trenches
introduced by the Germans. IN
spite of international agreemeEls
10 the contrary, Is poisonous gas
Tnis was at hrst very effective
since no defense against it had been ;
prepared At present time, how :
ever, each man in or near the :
front carries sas mask, whicE
enables him 10 meet an attack OF
Jhis hind without serious injury.
Wonderful stan Organizations.
Back Of the lines the Orsaniza-
tions OF the stan branches OF the
service has been enormously eA-
telded. railroads are constructed :
up TO within short distance oil
the front. Transport OF supplies
and ammunition Icy motor trucks
has been orsauized on a blg scale
The medical departments have also
made notable gains in methods OF
treating wounded men, with the re-
suit that a very large percentage re-
cover. Even in the early months
Of the w1r it was announced that
OF the wounded actually treated In
French hospitals, 54.5 per cent
were returned TO duty within Il
short time, PAS per cent We're
sent home 10 complete their re-
coNery ami later returned TO duty,
II per cent at the time of MAKING
the report we're still in hospitals,
With the probability Of complete
recovery. j. per cent We're unit
for further service; % per cent
had died from the effects OF their
wounds.
There IL probably little basis for
the idea that the number of casual
ties IN this war is any greater. IN
proportion 10 the number OF men
the French army during the iast
six months of 1916 (Which included
three big oGeusNesl the total losses
I'm killed, wounded. and prisoners
are officially reported to haze been
only lis per cent of the French
. forces under arms.
one OF the striking features Of
the war is the proof that has been
eiNen OF courage and devotion u
duty on the part of men of all na-
tions AS soldiers we must honor
and strive 20 emulate the heroic
bravery of those who are EShuns
the battle for democracy and frt--
dom. As soldiers We must recog-
nize also the skill and courage Of
the enemy even though tney are
shown in a bad cause. Nothing is
gained by beliulirg the enemy. II +
Is our place rather 90 see TO il that
we develop among ourselves still
higher decree Of the intelligence. IA
spirit tenacity. and seIf-reliance
Wnich alone can win victories.