Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-03-19
GERMANS AND THE TANKS.
Allies Capture Official instruction as
to Meeting of the Engines.

German soldiers are, as we an
nounccd several months ago. expert
menting with tanks. but hitherto moth
ing has been seen of the result OF
their efforts to copy the war engine
invented by the allies. writes an AS
sociatcd Press correspondent from the
French front.
In the meantime it is learned from
many sources that serious discom-
future has been caused to the Germans
whenever the allies tanks have been
employed against them. Detailed in
structions have been issued to the
troops as to the methods 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:
"Trcnchcs of minimum width OF
from l3 to - IL feet and depth
of ten feet also thick mud. form very
serious obstacles to tanks. which.
however, are t'tSHN tipi'' VI ''o''''
ing ploughcd land or breaking
through barricadcs. II 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 cs-
sential thing is TO prevent the infantr!
from following them and in orh'' I"
do this the enemy infantry must be
made TO fear the zone in the vicinity
of the tanks.
The only practical way OF attack
ing the tanks themselves is to place
cannon about the advanced zone oil
the battlefield and by direct fire put
these war machines out OF action.
Every direct hit on tank kills sew
cral OF its crew and often sets the
tank itself on fire. 1t must be point
ed out that sections of artillery held
lin reserve behind the front often are
unaware of what Is proceeding and
ihus arrive on the scene too late TO
Soeet the tanks. In principle there
fVfrnr cHfnur- shosflda -p}ac.d
well forward, so that the enemy may
not surprise US. The commander OF
the troops holding the front should
be responsible for selecting the posi-
tions of the anti-tank guns. Cannon
mounted on motor-cars are very use
full for this work in districts where
the roads are good.
"As to the infantry, they should
make no breaches in the battle line ~
cept to permit the unchanged tanks
TO pass through. To do this the IN
fantry should take shelter. but not
retreat, for the idea is to allow the
tanks to advance so that they may
he put out Of action behind our lines.
The principal task OF the infantry is
to meet and rcpulsc the enemy in
fantry, but number Of detached
posts should be established behind
the lines for the purpose of serving
rs defense against the tanks.
THE most etficacious infantry mis-
sile against q tank attack Is the
armor- piercing bullet. whose effects
are greatly feared by the tank crews.
as these bullets not only penetrate
the armor but afterward produce
fire to the gasoline reservoir.
"The best method Of attacking a
tank Is from its rear. where the arm
or is lightest amid where 1t is not
easy for the crew to fire on the at
tackcrs Should fight against tanks
occur in the serccts of a village the
infantry is in favorable position to
attack, as the men can take shelter
in the ruined houses until the tanks
have passed and then open fire at
point blank range with rifles and ma
chine guns.
Hand grenades are almost inef-
feetive against tanks, but small
trench mortars when they fire at
low angle sometimes obtain good re-
.ults
practical drill in anti-tank tactics
should he carried out and thus the
lan,;s vii! lose their terrors for our
troops"