The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1918-11-08
BOCHE LEADER
IS OUTwITTED
LudendorH In Own Order
Admits He Was Made
Goat.

signed by General Won Ludendorff,
which has fallen into French hands,
contains the first direct admission by
himself that he was outwitted by
General Gouraud by the latter's
elastic defense" in the Champagne on
July Is but also that the Franco
American attack which turned the
| tide of battle-and of the whole war
came as a surprise to the Germans.
In this order the German quarter
master-general virtually adopts the
novel system of meeting an attack
which was employed for the first time
in the war by the General Gouraud's
Campaignee army when the crown
prince launched his ill-starred
"Friedenssturm."
The text of the order follows:
Our experience in the most re-
cent battles give rise to the following
comment
with the modern system of 'elas
tic Defense which involves the en-
ployment of very feeble garrisons, it
is not always possible to prevent the
enemy from penetrating the advanced
trenches, particularly when he profits
in large measure from the element
of surprise, as was the case on July
is.
"Must Throw of Scruplcs.''
"Since we are not fighting for the
purpose of holding territory, enemy
penetration is not important, provid-
ed it runs against an elastic defense
well echelonned in depth.
I'VE must. today more than ever
before. rid ourselves of all scruples
about abandoning our advanced-post
lines and our advanced trenches, pro-
vided the abandonment takes place at
our time, and that circumstances de-
mand il.
I'VE must even give up the idea of
retaking such positions. To encoun-
ter attack under unfavorable condi-
lions means to expose our troops to
unnecessary losses.
when we have to face an attack
of great breadth we may, in certain
cases. adopt less narrow tactics and
may give ground on a large scale, as
the French did on July IS in evacu
ating their position to a depth of sew
eral kilometers without giving battle.
I'VE need not fear for the morale
of the troops in cases of this kind,
when the execution is expressly or
dered, for the troops will appreciate
the reasons for such a procedure.
"Of late there has been a tendency
toward Understanding the value of
defense works. In certain quarters
it has even been asserted that it is
more difficult to attack an enemy
who does not occupy fortified posi-
tion than one retrenched behind a
network of barbed wire and other de-
lenses. though the value of subter-
ranean shelters has been consistently !
admitted.
This idea must be vigorously COM
batted.
Underground Shelters Praised.
Underground shelters are without
question of the first Importance, but |
at the same time one can not, in an
of a defensive battle. dig /
too many trenches nor erect too many |
barbed wire belts.
Trenches are indispensable, be-
cause they maintain communications
nd lines of supply. Where there are |
no trenches the morale of the troops |
suffers quickly, especially in bad
weather. If the trenches and wire
belts attract the enemy fire. all that is
necessary is to leave them until the
Commandment dies down.
"Our principal of defensive warfare
permits a free movement of troops
Turing the battle, in the trenches as
we'll as behind them. as the exigen-
lies of the fighting may demand.
There can not be the slightest
loubt that it is easier to defend a
sector provided with trenches and
Darbed wire belts than one which
acks them. The recent battles have
proved this.
"lncessant attention also should be
,aid to the tanks. Our initial sue
'esses against these machines led to
IN underestimation of them. We
must now count with machines more
dangerous than those first introduced
~ the enemy, for they are now more
powerfully armored and armed,
mailer and more mobile"
rIIL Dtnufp AVN txFnnxrD .