The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-17
DELAYING the DRIVE.
ALLIES PREVENTING CONC,,%
TRATION OF HUN DIVISIONS
Artillery and AirpIanes DESTROY Rail.
roads and Scatter Troop Trains.

behind the British Lines in France,
June 80 Correspondence of The
Associated Press) The task of CON
centrating divisions for a modern bat-
tie ON the western front is by no
means an easy one, for it is naturally
the enemy's chief concern to prevent
such Il movement from being success
fully and easily accomplished.
Rapid concentrations are essential.
or else the all-important element of
surprise is lost, and rapidity depends
largely upon the skillful use of rail
ways already Overburdened with the
normal demands of the troops in the
assault area. For this reason the
enemy's long range fire, as we'll as
considerable proportion of his bomb
ing airplanes are concentrated upon
the railroads in the back areas.
Under normal conditions. the ordi-
nary straight railway line is not
particularly vulnerable. Being so mar
row it is difficult target to hit The
curves Of a railroad are, however,
much more important The destruc-
ton OF section of rail on a curve
means more trouble than the destruc-
ton Of half a dozen sections on the
straight
Sidings, railway stations, and places
where there is q network of rails
and where there are points, functions,
and other special types of rail, are
even more important than curves, for
damage done at a vital center may
completely delay traffic for many
hours. Such rail-centers behind the
German lines are subjected by the
British to Il form of time lombard
ment' SO devised that all repairs have
TO be carried out under the most
harassing conditions; and not an hour
passes without shells or bombs burst
ing in the affected area.
An important result Of this con-
centration against the rail centers is
that troops cannot be massed for an
attack without undergoing certain
amount of morale shaking expert
cncCs first. There is no peace for
them by day Or by night. Under these
conditions the troops are stale before
ihc attack is launched
AS this lOng-range bomhariment is
controlled chiefly by airplane obser-
walton, an enormous advantage lies
with that side which is predominant
in the air. BY the superiority of their
airmen the allied armies are able to
sweep all roads and railways i'm the
enemy's rear with concentrated artil-
iery fire by day and night; whilst
large squadrOns of bombing airplanes
keep the German rest areas and bill
let's perpetually under fire.
Thus the German soldiers are kept
in Il state Of nervous tension the cas-
ualties are heavy, and the extra work
involved by the ever-increasing diff
i.culties leads to the concentration be-
ing continuously delayed and hung
up. Divisions suffer and lose thei,
fighting value without ever being
launched against the enemy.
All these things together conspire
to make the German concentrations
difficult of accomplishment and moro
and more dependent upon the wealth
er, which alone can suspend the Brit
ish and French aerial activity and
hamper observation. Every days de-
lay in preventing Il German concen-
tration is of the utmost value to the
allies. who can prepare and strength
en- positions. bringing up re-inforce-
ments, construct roads and light rail
ways, and generally make valuable use
of the time thus gained.
When the delay occurs between
the phases Of big battle it is even
more important; for experience goes
to show that an arrested offensive that
fails to attain its objects is little bet
ter than real defeat.