New-York tribune., 1918-07-25
German Discipline
Shown as Cracking
By Boehm's Order
Captured Papers Reveal
Promiscuous Looting Be-
hind Enemy Lines
(Bu The Associnfed Prcsal


WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, July 23.--Difficulties of pre-
venting promiscuous food looting in
defiance of orders behind the German
lines are revealed in captured order
of General Won Boehm, commander of
the Seventh Army.
The Seventh Army has borne the full
weight of the Foch counter offensive
on the west. It's divisions around Sos-
sons suffered heavily at the hands of
the Americans, and those east Of Cha
teau Thierry were thrown back across
the Marine by the pressure of the
French.
General Won Boehm deplored the lack
of discipline which resulted in the
pillaging of stores in the back areas
during the advance in May, when all
edible booty found in the wake of re-
tirlng French speedily vanished, in
stead of being distributed among the
hungry troops in due proportions. The
order continues:
ut is necessary to depart from the
beaten track which has been followed
IN the utilization of material and pro-
visions and stores from the occupied
territory. Hopes of the utilization of
distribution of fixed portion of the
provisions to the fighting troops have
proved to be fallacious, owing to the
fact that the troops have taken these
provisions themselves and eaten them,
without treating them as part of the
authorized scale of rations.
Spoils Go to Stragglers
"In this way some units, which have
how 0rt, 70
capture booty of this description, have
lived in abundance. while others are
suffering privations. Further, it has
not been The troops in the front line to
whom this more abundant supply of
Food has fallen, but second line troops,
train echelons and, especially, strag-
glers, who are roaming about behind
the army.
ut has even happened that men have
taken food without authority and by
force from the stores in the military
occupation and administration, and I
regret to say some officers have not
been ashamed to interfere with the
guard in the execution of their duty
and to insult the officials to whose
charge the provisions were intrusted.
ut appears to be necessary for the
superior officials to follow the first line
troops as closely as possible and to be
accompanied by escorts of cavalry or
police, so important stores and depots
may at least be administered by them
with as little delay as possible.
III our progress results in the occu-
patton of a new area, this must be
placed under regular system of ex-
ploltatlon as soon as possible Order
must be maintained in the villages by
sentries and patrols. The troops must
be prevented and prohibited from max,
| ing acquisitions in the fields and tax.
ing the crops. The people at home
are SO short of all provisions necessary
to life that enough can never be done
to diminish the amount which the,
have to supply to the army in the
field.
Rapid and complete seizure anc
economic use of provisions may prove
OF capital Importance for the continu.
alton of the operations"
Discipline in Sad Way
The pillaging in the back areas
of which Won Boehm complains, an.
pears to have become widespread. Re.
cent orders issued by the commanders
of the Eighteenth and Second Armies
opposite the British, have revealed ex-
considering that the German militar,
machine has been notorious for its
iron discipline. Trains have been hello
up and the guards killed and pro
visions carried away by gangs o.
desperate soldiers intent upon salts
flying their hunger, even if they are
shot for it.
AS rule, the troops in the from
line are well fed, and prisoners re
Gently taken corroborate this, but il
order to supply them with adequate
provisions the rations of the divisions
resting or training in the back area
are cut down to minimum and tn,
amount doled out to each man to-da,
is not sufficient to satisfy his norma
needs.
All the orders issued on the deca
dence of discipline have been couche,
in curiously mild language, being il
effect more of an appeal than threat
as though the higher command realize,
that the men were in dangerou
mood and disinclined to submit to Sc
we're punishment.
While too high hopes must not b.
based on these reports of insubordina
ton, 1t remains fact that the disci
pine of the Germany army, at leas
on the Western front, is in a bad way
and the present defeat on the Marn
does not seem likely to improve it.
Constantine +o Wei