The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-03-13
huns CANNOT
BREAK THROUGH
Des Moines Man, Now Doing Y. N. G
A. Work, "0ver There, Declares
French and Americans Confident
MANY GERMAN SOLDIERS DESERT
Soldiers FormerIy on East Front Ois
appointed When Told They Must
Now Fight on Bloody West Line
By Harry c. Evans.

dPPSVVISO WIG" sSbS s'Sy "~Ss
Now Fight on Bloody West Line
BY Harry c. Evans.
(Y. NJ. c. A. Secretary.
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE. Feb
15-Those who are frightened over
the looked-for offensive by the Ger
mans on the western front, should
remember that the Germans have
had little fighting to do on the Rus
sian lines for seven months, that the
transfer of troops has been in prog,
gress for a long time. and that the Of
fensive has been discounted by the
allies. 1t should also be remembered
that 1t is not altogether question
OF the number of men, or man power
on the western front.
Only given number of men can
be used on given area. There IS
only room for four thousand men on
a mile Of trench line. The Germans
used every man there was room for
at Verdun and did not get through.
Moreover there are stories OF a
break in the morale of the German
troops on the Russian frontier. They
were told that if they conquered
Russia the war would be over. and
they would have no more fighting to
do. They insist they have completed
their job and now to be moved to
that bloody line on the west, where
their comrades have not gained an
inch in three years but are con-
stantly being whipped back-this
proposition is not received with ac-
claim, and there are stories or mu-
tinies and disturbances.
Huns Are Deserving.
The Fourth regiment of the Prus'
sian guard was stationed at Lith-
uania. On November % it was or
dered transferred to western France.
Five hundred men. nearly one-fourth
of the regiments strength, deserted
en- route. After journey OF three
weeks, the balance of the regiment
reached its destination on the French
line. Two French airmen bombed the
train as it waited in the rail-
way yards, destroying four coaches
and killing or wounding 14O men.
Two days later the regiment was
sent into the trenches at Verdun. in
punishment for the desertions. The
men were caught in an artillery bar
rage OF the French and the regiment
literally melted. A few survivors
reached the French trenches and sur.
rendered, terrified. dazed and appalled,
by the violence of the French fire.
The Fourth regiment of the Prus-
sian imperial guard had ceased to
exist! It was damaged in transit!
talked today with French soldier
home on leave of absence. He said:
Prussian lnaanity.
France has long known the Ger
mans. Our fathers and grandmothers
knew them. Their wild, insane in
vasions OF France has been going on
for years. These same Prussians
came In 1892. 1898, 1914, 1915 and in
1870, and they are here again. They
simply swarm. We whip them. but.
damn them, they come back. 1t seems
no use to kill them. When they in.
wade a district you may do what you
please. they are like field mice. The
more you kill the more there seems to
be- At the Mcuse they died like flies.
those Germans. Our quick firers cut
down their dense ranks as man cuts
wheat with a scythe, and our 75s tore
great holes in them. But still they
came on singing, as if nothing could
stop them. in numbers without ceas-
ing, in solid columns as II they were
glad to die. But even their numbers
and their discipline could not with
stand the losses we inflicted and after
awhile there was breathing spell.
Things on that scale cannot last. They
are not in nature. So some fine morn
ing we'll find the Germans have gone"
The French soldier is not boastful.
He Is quiet. silent. logged. 1t is diff
ficult to get him to talk OF the war,
and he never exploits his own deeds.
was having a dinner at a United
States army club. Another guest was
a French Colonel. After much persua.
sion he expressed himself on the pos.
sibility of the Germans breaking
through. He said y
"They viii Not Break Through"
"The boches will not break through.
That is what our poilus (soldiers)
think and say. They believe this.
these men who were at Verdun in 1916
and who but a week ago were relieved
on that same line. They are among
those who for two years have resisted
the crown princes avalanche of steel
and fire, and from the memory of
those frightfully tragic. hours and days
ouu SoHASo IAao - uSA
that Is luminous:
1.-THE boehes did not break
through them They will never
break through! - s--. -
Our poilus know that we are far
better off in fighting equipment to-
day than We were in 1916. They know
what we can expect from our British
allies. They we're not helping so
much then. They know, monsieurs,
that you are here, and they believe in
you. They know all this, but the real
cause of their belief is confidence in
and is drawn from the
fact that the boche did not break
in 1916 nor in 1917 therefore
they will never break throu9h-nev-
err"
They Shall Not Pass"
Aud as we listened to this man who
fought at Verdun, his splendid conf
dence took possession of us. Listen
ing to his fervent words; we saw Ver-
dun and its inviolate citadel rising