The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-12
TROOP NASSING
OF PRESENT . DAY
W ART Are IS A
TASK
Rapid Concentration Is Els
sential, Or Surprise Ele-
ment Is Lost

Behind the British Lines in France.
June 30.-(Correspondence OF the As
ISOLATED Press)-The task Of concen-
trating divisions for a modern battle
on the western front is by no means
an easy one, for it is naturally the
enemY's chief concern to prevent such
q movement from being successfully
and easily accomplished. .
Rapid. concentrations are essential,
or else the all-important element or
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 well as
ing airplanes, are concentrated upon
the railroads in the back areas.
Under normal conditions, the ordl-
nary straight railway line is not par
ticularly vulnerable. Being SO narToW
it is a difficult target to hit. The
curves of g railroad are, however,
much more. important. The destruc-
ton Of a section OF rail on q curve
means more trouble than the de-
struction of half a dozen sections on
sidings, railway stations, and plac-
es where there is a network of rails,
and where there are points. functions,
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 a form of time lombard
ment" so devised that all repairs have
to be carried out under the most har~
assing conditions and. not an hour
passes without shells or bombs burst
ing In the affected area. s..
An important result Of this concen-
tration against the rail centers is
that troops cannot be masseo Tor an
attack without undergoing a certain
es first. There is no peace FOR them
by day or by night. Under these con-
ditions the troops are stale before rhe
attack Is launched
controlled chiefly by atrplane 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 in the
enemy's rear with concentrated artil-
lery IRE by day and night; whist
large squadrons of bombing airplan.e9s
keep the German rest areas and Dill
let's perpetually under IRE.
Thus the German soldiers are kept
in state of nervous tension, the
casualties are heavy, and the extra
difficulties leads to the concentration
being continuously delayed and hung
up. Divisions suffer and lose their
fighting value without ever being
launched against the enemy.
All these things together consptre
to make the German concentrations
difflcult Of accomplishment and more
and more dependent upon the wealth
er, which alone can suspend the Brit
ish and French aerial activity ana
hamper observation. Every days de-
lay In preventing a German concen-
tration is of the utmost value to the
allies, who can prepare and strength
en- positions, bring up reinforcements.
construct roads and light railways,
and generally make valuable use or
the time thus gained.
When the delay occurs between the
phases of a big battle it is even more
Important, for experience goes to
show that an arrested offensive that
fails to attain it's objects Is little bet
ter than a real defeat.