Bisbee daily review., 1918-07-25
CONCENTRATING MEN
 IS NO EASY TASK

BERIND THE BRITISH LINES IN l FRANCE. June 20 Correspondence of the Associated Press) ).-The task of concentrating divisions for a modern battle on the western front is by no means an easy one, for it is atuarily the enemy's chief concern to prevent such a movement from being success fully and easily accomplished.
 Rapid concentrations are essential. or else the all-important element of surprist is lost, and rapidity depends upon the skillful use Of railways all ready overburdened with the normal demands of the troops fin the assault area. For this reason the enemy's long-range fire, as well as a consider able proportion Of his bombing air planes, are concentrated upon the rail roads in the back areas.
 Under normal conditions. the ordi- nary straight railway line is not partic- ularly vulnerable. Being so narrow it is a difficult target to hit The curves of a railroad are. however, much more important The destruction of a section of rail on a curve means more trouble than the destructiUn of half a dozen sections on the straight.
 Sidings, railway stations and places where there is a network O. rails, and where there are points, functions, and other special types of rail, are even more important than curves, for dam age done at a vital center may com pletely delay traffic for many hours. Such rail-centers behind the German lines are subjected by the British to form of time bombardment" so li- vested that all repairs have to be car ried out under the most harassing con ditions: and not an hour passes with cut shells or bombs bursting in the affected area.
 An important result of this concen- tration against the rail centers is that troops cannot be massed for an attack without undergoing a certain amount Of mcrale-shakig experiences first. There is no peace for them by day or night. Under these conditions the troops are stale before the attack is launched.
 As this long range bombardment is controlled chiefly by airplane obser- vation, an enormous advantage lies with the side which is predominant in the air. By the superiority of their armen the allied armes are able to sweep all roads and railways in the enemy's rear lines with concentrated artillery fire by day and night; whilst large squadrons of bombing airplanes keepu the German areas and billets perpetually under fire.
 Thus te German soldiers are kept fin a state of nervous tension, the casual ties are heavy, and the extra work in- volved by the ever-increasing di,fi- culties lead to the concentration be- ing continuously delayed and hung up. Divisions suffer and lose their fighting value without ever being launched against the enemy
 All these things together conspire to make the German concentrations difficult of accomplishment and mora and more dependent upon tho weather, which alone can suspend the British and French aviation activity and hamper observation. Every days de- lay in preventing German concen- tration is of the utmost value to the allies. who can prepare and strength en positions. bring up endorsements, construct roads and light railways, and generally make valuable use of the time thus gained.
 When the delay occurs between the nhases Of a big battle it is even more important, for experience goes to show that an arrested offensive that fails to attain its objective is. little better than a real defeat