Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-16
STILL A VAR OF MACHINES

The war is still a battle of machines, in which. of
course, the spirit and physique of the man behind the
gun is all important, but in which the soldiers morale
expresses itself through machines.
Germany in the matter Of machines has managed so
far to keep a bit in advance. In the beginning she had
the heavy artillery and high explosive shells by means
Of which she broke through Belgium and into North
eastern France. In her advance to the Marine, she got
ahead Of her artillery and was defeated by superior
French fighting ability because temporarily deprived Of
that advantage.
The following year she used gas upon the British
before Ypres and by means of its surprise would have
ance of the British, who sacrificed themselves in order
to equalize the deficiency.
At verdun in the spring of 1915 the Germans still
retained a superiority Of mechanics, but not as much as
to be overpowering or to create for. them the advantage
of surprise. Upon the somme later that same year, the
Allies exhibited an equality in mechanics and by sheer
fighting superiority, man for man, beat the Germans.
The French and British in 1917 were both able to
surprise the Germans tactically and to win limited VIC
tories thereby, but not to compel the enemy to any i'm
portant changes. The Germans. moreover. recovered an
superiority in the air. .
The first surprise that the Allies were able to fabri-
cate was in the fall OF 1917 by reason Of tanks These
enabled General Byng to take the Germans off guard
and to come near capturing Cambria; but this success
was nearly balanced by a tactical surprise Of Byng's
right flank. Faulty staff work on the part of the British
is said to account for the sudden partial German counter
success.
But the Germans sprung their greatest surprise
March FL. 1918. The British expected to be attacked
anywhere along their line, and knew that the Germans.
reinforced from Russia, had a large numerical superior
iy. But the British did not reckon on gas-shells and
the new Hutier tactics of assault. Gas-shells literally
asphyxiated the British army before st. Quentin and the
Hutier tactics added to the surprise. British resistance
again rose to the crisis and was aided by a degree of
superiority in the air. Indeed, had not the British
planes been somewhat superior to the German air SER
might not have served to save the defense. +.
Machines still do the deciding. French gas today is
deadlier than the German. British planes control the
air. The Allied advances is due to tanks. little and big,
and to them the Germans have nothing to oppose but
artillery fire. The American effort will introduce more
and novel mechanism.
There has been 2 succession OF devices: Heavy guns
with explosive shells, gas and fame. new styles OF air
planes, tanks. gas-shells. and now new kinds Of tanks
and automaticSrides. Every defense, such as the trench
system against gun-nre. has instigated some new device
which re-introduced surprise AZ the deciding factor.
The Allies have now at fast ~overtaken German mech.
power has passed 10 them definitely. Germany r. fan
ing behind the lines a. wen ii ii the lines. she wnY ).
bombed. eAssed. shelied. machine-gunned bayoneted,
starved I'll death. Never let up on her until she i down
iianA out past Journal.