The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-17

LIKE CHINA WALL.
Hindenburg Line Bars the Al
lies Road to Berlin.
Runs From Vimy Ridge South
east to Fortress of LaOn.
IT is NOT JUST A TRENCH Line
An Extensive and Intricate
System of Field Notifications.
In Some Places 1t Is as Much
as Ten Miles Wide.
IT IS NOT JUST A TRENCH Line


The celebrated Hindenburg line or
siegfrted line, barring the allies road
to Berlin, has been compared by the
German leaders to the great wall OF
China. Until the British broke IL IN
the sprfne of 1917 they believed 1t I'M
pregnable to assault as was once .he
Chinese wall and regarded II as the
eighth wonder of the world.
The Hindenburg line as generaly
defined. is about 60 miles long, run
1in- in a general north and south d.
rection across the Picardy rams ~
France Its northern extremity was
guarded by the heavily 1oruileo pae
ton of Vimy Ridge and by the Iiiii li,l
CITY of Lens. whose underground cor
ridors and chambers long have Darreu
the british. The southern end OF the
Hindenburg line, proper, IS IN the Vi
cinity of La Fere or Iaon. Inat emu
is protected in part by the 1orest OF %
Gobain and the fortiflcauons arouho
Laon.
Protects Cambria and st. Quentin.
Retyeen Vimy Ridge on the north
and Ia Fore on the sonth the line
masses west of Cambria and st. QUEEN
tin SO as to protect those two 1n1por-
tant industrial and railway centers
which are routes for bringing up sup
some war correspondents describe
the German line as continuing south-
eastward from La Fere TO the AIsne
river and Rheims. following the me
of the Chenlin des Danes; dHS o,
that part of the line southeast OF La
Fere the Alberich line. rms Wou-1
add about forty-five miles, making
total length of more than 10y miles.
Generally, however, the Hlndenpurs
line has been described as running
The Famous Switch Line.
Fearing that the northern end OF
the line might be turned, the Ger
meeting with the Hindenburg line at
Oueant and running north ABOUT 70
miles to Drocourt. They calleo this
switch the Wotan line.
The northern end or the HiIi ,e
burg line and the Wotan line nave
been broken more than once by the
British armies and both are now IN
nossession of the British armies. Long
ago the Germans lost Vimy Ridge ana
have failed to retake 1t:
The Hindenburg line Is not trench
but a. system of field Notifications.
In places it is said to be ten miles
deep. consisting not only or the
trench system, but of multiple lines
of barbed wire entanglements, con-
crete positions for artillery. deep dug
outs capable of housing a battalion OF
troops numerous pill-boxes for ma
chine guns and, in fact, every device
the Germans have been able to assem-
bic to block the way to Germany.
Great Catacombs.
Near Bullecourt was a formidable
underground fertilization known as
the Tunnel Treuch," which the Ger
mans believed to be impregnable. This
tunnel connecting the trenches was
more than a mile long and was mined
for its whole length, lighted with
electricity and had entrances at short
intervals It was reinforced by con-
crete pill-boxes and support trenches.
The British captured it in Novem-
Der 1917.
Below Graincourt the British troops
found great catacombs along the Hin
denburg line. These were deliberately
fitted up as battalion headquarters,
electrically lighted and protected by
concrete trenches. In front of Cam
brai, the villages behind the line had
beneath them great chambers which
1t would be a SANDER to call dugouts.
They were more like hotels, fitted with
electricity, water, sewers, drying
rooms and kitchens. They were shell
proof and bomb proof. The trenches
there were built along the banks of
the canal Du Nord, which runs north
and south near Havrincourt.
Important German strongholds
protect the southern section of the
line near La Fere. The forest of st.
Gobain presents an almost insuperable
obstacle in attacking this end of the
line.
Iaon the Keystone
Laon. lying within the big Corner"
where the line turns eastward along
the Chamin des Danes is regarded as
the keystone of the whole German
system. Hundreds of German bat
teries were installed in the screened
ravines around that city and in the
forests of st. Gobain.
Southwest of Laon the town was
protected by Massif of Menampteuil
behind whose crest are huge under
ground ravines and shelters some big
enough to hold a whole regiment. The
forest west of Laon was crammed
with vast store of munitions and
materials. Divisions of troops could
concentrate in it unseen.
Caves Are Death Traps.
Recently the Germans discovered
that the big dugouts along the Hin
denburg line were nothing but death
traps. An order by the German d.
visional commander forbade the Ger
man troops to occupy dugouts which
descend more than eight steps under
ground.
Behind the Hindenburg line the
Germans are credited with three other
lines of defenses.
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