The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-25
Swarms of Land Fight
ing Machines Advocat-
ed for Pershing.
WILL WHIP HUNS
Experience of Infantry at
G h a t c a u hierry
Shows Value Of
Machines.

Washington, Aug. 24--Thou-
sands of America n made ''iitney'
tanks equipped with liberty mo-
tors are Ia he hurled aaginSt the
Germans to overwheim their last
stand behind concrete mac hinc
gun nests and harbed wire. ii the
war depa RI mlcnt needs the advice
OF officers OF the American cNpe-
dictionary force.
IL WAS learned this afternoon
that this is one of the main de-
uands and most immediate needs
of Pcrshiug; that the light and
quick tank I'm great numbers has
been recognized az the best
means of smashing Germans
main devices for dcfenss~-the pin
boxes and cntangtcmcnts, the
principal CauScs of protracting
the war--and opening up battle
operations for last offensive
that will give full potency to the
allied superior man power.
And the recommendation has
been made by the military au-
thorities that the liberty motor
he used for equipplug this myriad
OF mobile little forts because OF
their suita bicness for heavy work
and because they now are In
quantity production.
Henry Ford already Is making
small tanks and tank parts, hut not
in sufficient quantities 10 open up tbs
German lines generally in time for
a supreme allied drive this year.
Tanks for Next Spring.
The demand for these tanks Is for
the spring OF lsl9 10 roll back this
Germans from the old Hindenburs
lie, where tfssss axe expect est 10 aras Ss
their stand before tho allied drives
and try 10 remain all winter
Artillery cannot be expected to oust
the foe from that position, the mill.
tary authorities say. It has beer
demonstrated, even IN the badly forti-
fed extended positions of the Ger
mans on their recently thrown back
thrust at the Marine. that attempting
10 blast away concrete machine CUR
shelters and barbed wire barriers wls
not only Unfortunately waStcfuL bat
inadequate--that the infantry had te
take the positions either with tht
rifle alone. at great loss, or with tbs
aid OF the tanks, with parauvely
incousiderab BILE loss.
For hits purpose experience ha;
proven the small tank virtually indis
pensihle the more so for the final ties
Of strength that viii come on the elab
big, heavy tank is too slow. the in
fantry finds itself either going OF
without the heavy tanks or obliged tC
hesitate in exposed positions.
That the final test will come on Thu!
Hindenhurg line is the military op!n
ion here. There is no expectation
that the present continuing successes
of the allies and Americans vii
strike the heavy blow that will crust
or rout the foe There is, however
a widespread expectation both herr
and abroad, according 10 those recent
ly returned from abroad, that the su
preme allied blow will fall In mex
springs campaign and achieve tina
military victory that alone will in
sure secure peace.
Outright Even .Airptane.
And dependence is being placed, 81
far as weapons are concerned, NOR
on the tank armada than on grea
fiocks of atrplanes. Germany's facit
ties. for making, planes is well devel
oped. so much so that she has beer
able to maintain, and probably wal
for some time. a nearly matched ri
valry in the air. so that neither sid
has complete mastery except wher
! either chooses 10 concentrate its al