Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-28
Resolution and Intelligence
Break Won Hutier Method
of Infiltration
1cOURCELLES Is EXAMPLE
Only First. Class Troops, Aided
by Surprise, Can Work 1t
Successfully
By G.. H. PERRIS
Special Cable to Epening Public Ledger

with the French Armies. June IS.
Two lessons emerge from the last
French counter offensive and from the
Halian victory on the Piave which
should be brought home to all the Allied
troops who may yet have to meet the
onset of the enemy for their encourage
nhent and guidance.
The first is that what we may for
brevity call the Won Hutier method of
attack can only be carried out success
fully by first-class troops enjoying the
benefit of real surprise or greatly
superior numbers The second lesson is
that IL the nature of this kind of attack
be clearly understood. and if the Allies
be well led and enter into the combat
with resolution and intelligence. they
can withstand it as well as the simpler
assaults of the past.
The elements of these tactics may
have been all familiar. The combination
uf them had the effect of impressive
novelty before St. Quentin on March 2l.
and on the Chemin-des-Dame on May
~ There was an almost complete sur
prise. and the defenders were heavily
outnumbered.
Isolated in Small Groups
The bombardment with explosive shells
could have been borne. but when it was
over the defenders of the front lines
found themselves isolated in small
broups of clouds of poison gas and arti-
hcial smoke, which concealed the assail-
ants till they were on the parapets.
The alarm could hardly be given be-
fore the main body of the assault leav-
ing these struggling groups to be gradu-
ally reduced. had reached the second
positions Then came new forces head
long. to exploit the breach. and after
them further waves. always hurrying
forward to reap the fruits of the sur
prise, speed and shock before the de-
lenders could be rallied or their reserves
brought into play.
q This requires high training not only
Of the Immediate executants, but also
cf the army services and determination
and vigor which the Austrian troops
were evidently unable to absorb from
their German masters; and 1t is liable
to DISASTROUS arrangement II any unex-
pected power Of resistance meets it in
the early stage.
That is what happened on the Mont
didierNoyon line between the COM
nencement of the German offensive of
Tune 9 and the successful French coun-
fer-attack upon its right flank, which ar
rested it three days later.
Importance Increased
4 told a few days afterward so much
- could then be known of the heroic
stand Of the little garrison of the village
4D{ Coprcelles. Fuller information in
oreases the Importance of this episode in
the battle. making of 1t precious ex-
ample and illustration of the defensive
<actics that will certainly be developed.
From Rollot on the old front to Cour-
ceiles is two miles I; thence to Tricot an
other two, and further to Couvrel yet an
other two. These three stages were to
form the first days work of the often
sive for three German divisions, two of
these in the front line and the third
passing through these according to the
new method.
The resistance of the single village of
Courceiles. held for three days by only
= few French troops. accounted largely
FOR the destruction of this effort. and so
made possible the subsequent back
Dweep of the French reserves.
BY this handful of men two German
eeG1ments were broken on June and
another on the following two days The
( local command, understanding both the
strength and weakness Of the Won Hutier
Y naneuver. had organized a series OF de-
fcnsive positions for a mile and half in
the aim of breaking the force and con.
nistepcy of the attack. and had inspired
All ranks with the determination to holo
sDsat. Two battalions held the front de-
kfensen and one the village itself. Al
zsnsost Immediately a group OF thirtS
<3ermans wormed their way through the
s lines and reached the battalion com
rs.nder's post of command in Courcelles
To hurriedly gathered his officers anc
orderiies, chasing the boches from house
- house, and soon disposed OF them'
An Were Beaten Back
All the more serious attacks followed
during the morning, but they were
s1eatan hack, and a little ground was
rscovered. BY afternoon the enemy eneny ts. t..
ADVANCED more than a mile beyond ths
= *viiIare on either side. leaving 1t only
= narrow line of communications win
4he rear. Constant sorties were mace
On both sides of this corridor BY
niwhtfall $50 prisoners had been taken
with three field guns-rashly brough
too Tar forward-and six heavy machine
I; gums.
Throushout the morrow again Cour
24celles stood out like a breakwater II
= stormy sea Men fought indomitably
< ,suiur every bit of shelter, but burst
inx out in short charges whenever
ruod opportunity occurred The few re
9Ssrves were ably managed to feed tn
y 1nore important counter-attacks and u
] frtrenrthen the weak points of defense
Personal initiative went for much' Keel
I fGp-operation and good liaison for more
81 could cite score of feats of daring
'iHat the moral of the story lies In tn
tnnneral result obtained.
On June IL the army of reserves wer'
>ToaAy f0r the large operation which
$50 10 rob Won Hutier of half OF th'
ronnA he had gained, and hold hin
Sklnd the line of the Matz. The Cour
n11es battalions, having preserved
nS1a part Of the jumping-on place, hae
<fnlG1led their part in the battle.
Il II every future German offensive fall
4 l5narlt such staunch groups of resist
k6aF Il will be similarly broken, ane
Won Hutier method. like the won
fuI ''stosstrupen" of last year, WI
{nne to interest the world.
wAlU WOMEN AS OFFICIALS