The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-03-16
GERMANS INSTRUCTED
TO ATTACK TANKS
They Are Told to Get Into the Rear of
Machines and Attack Where Armor Is
Lightest and Where There Is Less
Chance to Return the Fire.

French Front, March Is Correspond
ence of the Associated Press German
soldiers are, as was announced severa
months ago, experimenting with tanks
but hitherto nothing has been seen of the
result OF their efforts to copy the wal
engine invented by the allies.
In the meantime it is learned from
many sources that serious discontinue
has been caused to the Germans when
ever the allies tanks have been employed
against them. Detailed instructions have
been issued to the troops as to the meth
DDS by which to meet tank attack. One
of the most recent orders was captured
| in the course of an incursion by allied
troops into the German lines. II reads
| in substance as follows:
Trenches of a minimum width from
| l3 to l2R feet and a depth of 10 feet,
also thick mud, form very serious OBJ
stacles to tanks, which, however, are
easily capable of crossing ploughed land
or breaking through barbados. 1t is
not worth while TO construct obstacles.
1t is preferable to attack the tanks.
Tanks approaching the front should
be attacked by the artillery before they
come into action, even when there is
small chance of hitting them. The essen
tial thing is to prevent the infantry
from following them and in order to do
this the enemy infantry must be made
to fear the zone in the vicinity of the
tanks.
"The only practical way of attacking
the tanks themselves is to place cannon
about the advanced zone of the battle
field and by direct fire put these war
machines out of action. Every direct hit
on a tank kills several of its crew and
often sets the tank itself on fire. 1t
must be pointed out that sections Of ar
tillery held in reserve behind the front
often are unaware of what is proceeding
and thus arrive on the scene too late to
meet the tanks. In principle, therefore,
the cannon should be placed well for
ward, so that the enemy may not sur
prise us. The commander of the troops
holding the front should be responsible
for selecting the positions of the anti
tank guns. Cannon mounted on motor
cars are very useful for this work in dis
tricts where the roads are good.
"As to the infantry, they should make
no breaches in the battle line except to
permit the unchanged tanks to pass
through. To do this the infantry should
take shelter, but not retreat, for the idea
is to allow the tanks to advance SO that
they may be put out of action behind
our lines. The principal task of the in
fantry is to meet and repulse the enemy |
but number of detached posts |
should be established behind the lines for |
the purpose of serving as defense |
against the tanks.
"The most efficacious infantry missile
against tank attack is the armor pierre
ing bullet, whose effects are greatly |
feared by the tank crews, as these bull |
lets not only penetrate the armor but /
lfterward produce fierce flame which /
sets fire to the gasoline reser-
voir.
'The best method of attacking a tank |
IS from its rear, where the armor is |
ightest and where it is not easy for the
rev to fire on the attackers. Should a
light against tanks occur in the streets
If village the infantry is in favorable
position to attack, as the men can take
,helter in the ruined houses until the
anks have passed and then open fire at !,
,oint blank range with rifles and ma
hine guns.
Hand grenades are almost ineffec-
i've against tanks. but small trench NOR I,
ars when they fire At a low angle some
lines obtain good results
Practical drill in anti-tank tactics
hould be carried out and thus the tanks
viii lose their terrors for our troops"