The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-07-27
Makeup Of German Division.


Generally speaking. Il German dIEi-
sion of three regiments, each made up OF
three battaltOnS with four companies
apiece. is organized in depth formation
for the attack. Two regiments form
the front line and supports and third
regiment forms tho reserve. Zach front
line regiment has ono battalion extend
cd with three companies in line and ono
behind them. The two other hattalIunS
Of each regiment act as supports and
the third regiment of tho division is in
tho centre and follows IN reserve to cN-
plot am success gained. With i; 30
tho guns CT batteries ordered TO accom-
pany the attack
Artillery preparation from two 10
four hours changes to Il carefully rcIu-
lated creeping barragn at the moment
when the infantry advance begins ana
At the same moment sustained cover
ing fire is opened by the heavy na-
chine guns. These guns are the "E""'!
smiths" of which the kaiser spoke ana
under the protection of their blows the
intantry comes on.
If the attack succeeds tho first line
pushes on AS far as possible. lcarnG
; hostile machine gun nests ana points
Of support to BE- dealt with BY the units
; following. But If the attack Is held
up. the front at once Is covered by Il
machine gun barraGe and the process
OF infiltrutlon begins.
Mon. either individuality or by small
groups, accompanied by machine guns.
endcnvor to advance from cover 10
cover and turn all the strong points
and machine gun nests in order to at
tack them from the rear and so allow
f fsnder. f meanwniis, IS snnj%' 10 heavy
fire from other machine ! rs IN IN"
rear and from accompanying batteries
| when they can como into action.
Best Element of Attack.
II Is these small groups Of highly
| trained riflcmcn and machine gunnrrs
! that form tho best element in an nj
! tack. If the enemy counter attacks
them they endcnvor to form firing
| line of groups we'll concealed. and IN
case they arr driven back the ma
chino guns in the rear receive I'm"
! ly given that there il 70 be no retreat
and battle police took tn it that there
! IS none unless they are themselves
swept away.
| n difficult problem in the face nr
modern armies because the whole I'm"
, Of q river usually Is strongly held. IN
| Tho old days it was c"nnparatlfrly
; easy 10 threaten IN army At one point
! and cross at another. TIL" great MINI
bcrs of modern armies altered tn" prom
| lon and the recent failures of tho Gen.
! trail powers on tho Pave and the Mario
! show some nf Tho dtlncultlcS inherent III
| tn" operation now.
| II was easy for the Germans 10 mass
troops for the passage OF Ill" Marin"
| under tho protection from view Hii"rh"l
! by the forests north Of tho river h'l!
! 10 bring 4 tremendous fire Of gums !"
; bear upon tho defenders southern bunk:
! In parts only of tn" front attacked
some bridges were thrown and troops
! PASSED across. but Immediately th"*"
! bridges and tho maSscd troops wall x
| T., cross became targets for HIrIn"n ana
| artillery while L V"lun" Of fir" de-
seconded upon tho ASSISTANTS after cross
| lnc and found them in crampcd and un-
cnvablc positions.
! TO the rigid Journalism IF tho Ger
man nm answer can always h" inunn.
, Tho point ia 10 watch closely III" TN
! denotes Of tho cncny's ta'tir$ anil :"
! meet his now developments with "ih"r
! rovnltIcs Of our own There is n"thir Z
| that disconCcrts tho German nor" thAil
! q novelty exploited 1T his expense.