The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-08-02
CONCENTRATION OH
DN|S|ONNOT EASY
important Work on Western
Front Requires Constant Effort
and Untiring Labor

d 4 -. ~ .
BEHIND THE BRITISH LINES
IN, FRANCE, July 10-LtAssociated
Press) The task Of concentrating diyi-
siuis for aimodcrn battle on the west
en- front i by no means IN easy one,
for II is naturally the enemy's chief
concern to prevent such . movement
from being successfully and easily ac-
complished. -. v. .
Rapid concentrations are essential
or else the al1-important element Of
surprise is lost, and rppidity depends
largely upon the skillful use. Of rail-
ways already overburdened with the
normal demands of the troops in the as
sault area. For this reason the enemy's
lonp-range FIRE, as well as consider
able proportion Of his bombing air
planes, are concentrated upon the rail.
roads in the back areas ~,
Under normal conditions, the ordin.
airy straight railway line is not parti-
cularly vulnerable. Being so narrow
II is difficult target to hit. The
curves Of railroad are, however, much
more important. The destruction OF q
section Of rail OH q carve means more
trouble than the destruction OF half
dozen sections on the straight,
Sidings, railway stations, and places
where there Is a network Of rails, and
where there are points, functions, and
| other special types Of rail, are even
more important than curves, for dam
age done at vital center may com
pletely delay traffic for many, hours.
| Such rail.centers' behind the German
lines are subjected by the British TO q
form of 'time bombardmentn so de-
yised that all repairs have to be car.
ried out under the most harassing con-
| ditions; and not yan hour passes with
out shells or bombs bursting in the af.
fected area. ,-.. aE.aE.. RI Iva,
! An important result Of this concen.
tration against the rail centers IL that
troops cannot be massed for an at.
tack without undergoing certain
amount Of Notwithstanding experiences
i first There Is no peace for them by
day or by night. Under these eondi-
tions the TROOPS are stale before the at
tack is launched. r -U5a.l T.. l..@a
As this long range bombardment is
controlled chiefly by airplane obserya-
ton, an enormous advantage lies with
that side which is predominant In the
air. BY the superiority Of their air
men the Allied armies are able to
sweep all roads and railways Of the en-
smy's rear with concentrated fire by
day and night; whilst large squadrons
of bombing airplanes keep the German
rest areas and billets perpetually IN
der fire.
Thus the German soldiers are kept in
q state Of nervous tension, the casual
ties are heavy, and the extra work In
volved by the ever,increasing difficulties
leads to the concentration being CON
: tinuously delayed and hung up. Div
isions suffer. antlt dose their fighting
value without ever being launched
against the enemy.
All these things together conspire tc
make the German concentrations diff
=, fcult of accomplishment and more anC
y more dependent upon the weather
which alone can suspend the British
and French aerial activity and hamper
;. observation. EVERY days deny In
preventing German concentration Ii
; of the utmost value to the Allies, VIII
t can prepare and strengthen positions
n bring up reinforcements, construc
s roads and light railways, and general!
s make valuable use of the time thu
+ gained.
G When the delay occurs between tn
phases of q big battle it is even NOR
e important; for experience goes to shoy
4 that an arrested offensive that fail
y to attain its objects is little bette
J. than q real defeat. ~