Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-03
ORDER ADMISSION
HE WAS OUTW|TTED
Champagne Conflict Was Too
Great for General Won
Ludendorff.
NOT FIGHTING TO HOLD GAINS
That Is Striking Sentence in
German Officials Mes
sage to Troops.
NOT FIGHTING TO HOLD GAINS

PAR1S. November "a German or
Ger. signed by General Won Ludendorff
which has fallen into French hands
contains the first direct admission by
himself that he was outwitted by Cen
eral Gouraud by the latter's elastic
defense" In the Champagne on July Is,
but also that the Franco american at
tack which turned the tide of battle
and or the whole war, came as a sur
Prise to the Germans
IN TINS order the German quarter
master genera! virtually adopts the
hovci system OF meeting an attack
which was employed for the first time
H. the war by General Gouraud s Cham
pasne army. when the crown prince
launched his illstarred ''Friedens-
The text of the order follows:
Cur experiences in the most recent
battles give rise to the following COM
With the modern system OF elastic
defense. which involves the employ
rnent of very feeble garrisons. II is not
from penetrating the advanced trenches
particularly when he profits in a large
measure from the element Of surprise
as was the case on July is.
since We are not fighting for the
purpose of holding territory. enemy
penetration is not important. provided
echelonned in depth.
We must. to-day more than ever
before. rid ourselves of all scruples
q bout abandoning advanced post
lines and our advanced trenches. pro
vided the abandonment takes place at
our time. and that circumstances de-
mand it.
We must even give up the idea Of
retaking such positions. To counterat-
tack under unfavorable conditions
means to expose our troops to unne-
cessary losses
When we have to face an attack Of
great breadth. we may. in certain cases.
81,
ground on large scale, as the Frencs
did on July IS in evacuatinE their posi-
ton to a depth Of several kilometers
without giving battle.
OF the troops in cases OF this kind.
when the evacuation is expressly or
the reasons for such procedure.
"Of late there has been n tendency to-
ward Understanding the value of de-
tense works. In certain quarters it
has even been asserted that it is more
difficult to attack an enemy who does
not occupy n fortified position than
one retrenched behind network Of
barbed wire and other defenses. though
the value OF subterranean shelters has
been consistently admitted.
This idea must be vigorously COM
batted.
underground shelters are without
question Of the first Importance, but at
tion of q defensive battle. dig too many
trenches nor erect too many barbed
wire belts.
Trenches are indispensable. because
they maintain communications and
lines OF supply. Where there are no
trenches the morale of the troops suf-
fers quickly, especially in bad weather
II the trenches and wire belts attract
the enemy fire, all that is necessary is
to leave them until the bombardment
dies down.
Our principle of defensive warfare
permits free movement of troops dur
ing the battle. in the trenches as we'll
as behind them, as the eNigencies Of
the fighting may demand.
There cannot be the slightest doubt
that it is easier to defend a sector pro-
vidcd with trenches and barbcd-wire
telts than one which lacks them. The
recent battles have proved this
'lncessant attention also should be
paid to the tanks. Our initial sue
cesses against these machines led to
all underestinationo of them. We must
now count with machines more danger
Gus than those first introduced by the
enemy. for they are more powerfully
armorcd and armed. smaller and more
mobile"