The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-07-12
IS HUGE lDD 10
ll|IIlE HlR cattle


MIND THE BRITISH LINES IN
|NoD, 1nlo 2o-( CorresDondence
Z. ~ A1goclntod Press 1.-THE task
F. CONCENTRATING divisions for q mod
.In hattie On the western front IL by
~ moon1 - easy one, for II IL nat.
ULl||y TIE onomy's chief concern 20
nI1Fo1l 3 mogement from being sue
E1I1lIlly md easily accomplished.
Hapld concentrations are essential.
~ o|1o The allimportant element Of
buIIll1o 3 lost. and rapidity depends
IolII|g uDon the skilful use OF rail-
U1Il already Overbordened with the
noInal demands Of the troops in the
1111ult area For this reason the en-.
ouy'D longsanOs fire. a. well as a
c1l1lloTaDIo proportion Of HIS bomb
ne oIfDlonoo, ere concentrated upon
lho railroads IN the back areas.
Under normal conditions. the ordi.
naIV straight milway line IL not par
tICulafiy vulnerable. Being so mar.
IDu 4 = Q dillieult target to hit. The
curves 81 Q railroad are, however,
mich more important. The destruc-
Ton u . section OF rail on curve
means more trouble than the destruc.
ton q nals a dozen sections on the
straight.
1IdlngB. railway.atations. and places
where there ls q network Of rails. and
where there are points, functions, and
other special types Of rail. are even
more important than curves, for dam.
ago done q Z vital center may com.
plotoly delay traffic for many hours.
Such rnil-ceateFB behind the German
lines are subjected by the British to
q form Of "time bombardment" so de.
Vi1ol that oil repairs have to be car
1Io1 cut under The most harassing con.
1ilIons and not an hour passes with.
cut shells or bombs bursting In the az
loolod area.
An important result Of this concen.
lrnllon against the rail centers is that
troops cannot be maesed for an attack
without undergoing . certain amount
q Dofalo-1haklng experiences first
Ihclo y 10 peace for them by day or
" night. Under these conditions the
troops ere stale before the attack is
launched.
a sthis Iong.range bombardment Is
rpnlDolIo1 chiefly By airplane obser'
walton, ~ enormous Advantage les
Win thnl side which II predominant
d ne dr., By the superiority of their
1|D1n ne Allied armies are able to
f, sweep al roads and railways in the
I11ny's rear with concentrated artil
Iof yfIf6t b. day and night; whilst
large oquadfons Of bombing airplanes
L9op IRE German rest areas and bill
IGl1 DorpDtunlly under fire.
<nds ne German soldiers are KEEP,
q state of nervous tension. the cas-
naIllo8 are heavy, and the extra work
involved b. the ever-increasing diff
entities leads to the concentration be
ina spontaneously delayed and hung up
DH|.|ons suffer and lose their fight
ms lllne without ever being launched
against the enemy.
Al t1cto things together conspire
q. make the German concentrations
difficult q accomplishment and more
md more dependent upon the wealth
q. which alone can suspend the Brit
- and Preach aerial activity and
hamper observation. Every days de
I11 n preventing q German ocncen'
IIalI6n h Of the utmost value TO the
Allies. who can prepare and strength
n positions. bring up achievements
construct rpa1s and light railways. and
E1noInIIy make valuable use Of the
tine thus gained.
When the delay occurs between the
phases q big battle II IL even more
Important; for experience goes to
.11e hat IN arrested offensive that
I.||l d attain IT, objects 10 little bet.
Itr han Z real defeat.
II a.