The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-05
CIVIC ASSOCIATION
 MEMBERS ENJOY MAJ. MOONS TALK
Explains Defensive and Of fensive Warfare on Vest ern FrOnt-Dr. McKeen
 Speaks Also

! Mai. Hartley A. Moon, in very thrill- | ing language, related his experiences
 and observations in the trenches on the
 western front to a large and enthu- 1 siastic audience in the Civic associa- 1 tion auditorium last night | Major Moon said that the war is not l over yet and should not be until the | Germans are wiped off the earth. You | don't know" he said, until you come 1 in contact with them what the Huns are." He expressed his faith in the 1 people of the United States to stand behind the government in prosecuting l the war to successful finish. and said we can't afford to stop now. He was frequently and enthusias- 1 tically applauded as he related the methods of defensive and offensive warfare; how, when preparing for an attack, our boys hurl gas shells into the ranks of the enemy, causing great havoc and consternation. and how their
 barrage blows up the ground in front of the enemy lines, and how our men have to pick their way at inter-
 va1s through the enemys counter bar rage which also tears the earth into pitholes.
 'The object of this method of war
 fare is to secure prisoners" said Ma1or Moon, but Is often very disastrous and
 does not accomplish as much as do minor attacks. Sometimes two or three
 men stationed at post will capture
 a German and take him to the intellf-
 gence officer and secure more informa- ton than Is gained by one of these attacks in force.
 DEFENSIVE WARFARE 'In defensive warfare the soldiers form at triple posts, in groups of one
 and two platoons; one platoon being
 at each of two posts and two platoon5
 at the other post, so that in an emer-
 gency the men from the post of two ,pIatoons can go to the aid of either Of the other posts.
 'In offensive warfare several men are sent to an observation post, where they are at great disadvantage on account of the wire entanglements confronting them they can't throw hand grenades under the wire, but can only use their pistols
 Major Moon told how an Alabama boy stood with his pistol between sev- eral of his companions and Warded off the Germans while they retreated back behind the lines.
 Major Moon spoke very enthusiasts | tically about the famous Rainbow divi- | sion and particularly of the gallantry | of several Birmingham men. He told i how that company or infantry won l the CORnOnen or In6 IeTTlDle 4uey i were given this distinguished appella- | ton after five of their men had de-
 feated nine strong, robust, trained Germans of a German patrol. whom l they encountered while out on scout l ing expedition.
 He referred in very complimentary
 manner to the work of the Red Cross
 and other similar organizations doing work in France.
 1 JUDGE FORTS REMARKS | He was introduced by Judge Fort, president of the Civic assocfat tion, who
 referred incidentally, to the work Of 1 the association and the democratic principles underlying it. He also spoke of the Open Forum. meetings which,
 he said, would begin about Novem- | ber 20.
 | / pr. II. F. McKeen of the Young Mems l Christian association was present and
 addressed the audience for 20 minutes , on the subject of united war work, ] urging the necessity of doubling up" 1 in the next campaign, which begins Monday.
 Instructor Akers of the Civic asso-
 citation military training class an- l nounced at the conclusion of the ad- l dresses that the military training class | of the Civic association would be re- | organized Monday night and will meet | for that purpose at the Jefferson
 County Bank building, on the Twenty first street side.