New-York tribune., 1918-03-31
The White
Flag
THE process of surrendering in

TIME process of surrendering in
modern warfare constitutes a
subject which has been very
meagrely treated by writers. The fol-
lowing, by a writer who employs only
the initials "E. T. ST." published in
popular Mechanics" will be found an
informative bit of comment:
t"An idea persists in many quarters to-day
that at any time a combatant gets into
place too tight for his courage, or a place
where continued opposition to an over
whelming force means nothing but useless
suicide, all he has to do is to surrender
The popular idea of this giving up in the
face of odds is symboized by the photo
graphed silhouettes of Germans walking
toward the Allied trenches with hands held
aoft and crying, Mercy, Kameraden!'
"The truth is much sterner than this.
Neither d German nor a fighter under the
Allied flags has this privilege always. In
fact, more than half the soldiers who actu-
ally desire to surrender. and who would
most certainly do so if given the oppor-
tunity, are forced to fight to the end.
"Prisoners cannot be taken bp either
side except ot certain stages of the conn.,
bat!
Under the instructions issued to
boys at the cantonments to-day, given to
the officers at the reserve officers training
camps, and used by the armies of the Allies
and such of troops have figured in
attacks thus far, no prisoners can be taken
oil oh of of at
tack in question have been established.
Let us illustrate this. In most normal at
tacks to-day the battalion is the unit Ia
the case of big push'-that is, an attack
which extends over five miles or more Of
front-the regiment, elastic body
sisting of any number of battalions {under
the army system adopted by France, Eng
land and Italy, and which probably soon
will be adopted by the United States War
Collcge) sometimes is the unit, but not often.
"The battalion usually forms wavc and
is given q definite objective. If there are
only three waves, each battaion's objective
may be one of the three opposing trenches
The time card of attack will designate the
hour of advance Zero hour, the kind Of
barrage (box, creeping, or lifting), and the
method of advance behind the barrage. Also
the card will state exactly the minute and
second that each objective should be gained
"In making out these cards no more time
IS allowed than is deemed absolutely nee
essary, for seconds wasted in accomplish
ing the purpose of an attack account for
scores Of killed and wounded
THE way 1t all works out is that every
ounce Of offensive strength possessed by a
battalion Is needed all Of the time until the
trench - taken, new trench is made and
the immediate counter attacks repulsed
iob+ =tp
1ectuaiiy as a large body of men brought
up as reserves in the opposing trench for
tney would demand an escort to the rear
IN the case Of sudden attack no limos
vi communication TO the rear have been
established These have to follow quickly
oi course, else ammunition will give ONT
among the capturers Of the trench. but tho
"o"i''on ruHhcrs-bravc men who take
thrce-to-one chances with death across tbc
unprotected waste OF No Mans Land tba,
tn'y may osing up cartridges and grcnades
10 'he oeiehders--have no time or inclina
ton TO escort captured Germans back of tho
lines. 1t stands TO reason that until aa 70
means Of communication with the rear haze
been established it, is suicidal for tho a.
lacking party to waste time with prisoners
~ Is not a pretty thought but c'est la guerre,
Inc same syiiogismY and conclusions wc,e
uncovered and acted upon by the German
armies long before the Allies were abjc IN
40 more than strain heart, soul and boav
IN attempting TO stem the seemingly iney-
orab'c tide Of Tcutons Now that the AIIi.x
in turn arc doing the major portion of ~.
attacking, they have had to adoDt cxactly
the same measures. Where tactics and tae
prornpsings Of humanity clash In wu.-weu
TACTICS cannot lose"