Evening star., 1919-04-13

been USED IN tnOuSaHuS' S<h 'A'$N ~~'
tanks might have won the war; why
were they not held back? Everything
humanely possible was done to pre-
serve the element of surprise and TO
withhold their use until they were
available in great numbers.
The tank is a fighting machine In
tended to negotiate rough country,
yet, being a machine. 1t will always
have mechanical limitations and
shortcomings. Tanks are not subna-
rines or moles and yet they were
used in the Flanders mud and were
criticised under conditions for which
they were totally unsuited
Later experiences show that tho
best results were obtained from tanks
when cooperation was developed be-
tween all arms Team work was PERI
fected. Each arm had definite share
OF the work to do and the old habis
Of passing the buck from one branch
Of the service to the other was passN
Tactical schools were opened whore
the use Of tanks In conjunction with
other arms could be studied. All of
fensives were rehearssd and many
Of the early failures which resulted
from imperfect or loosely planned aos
tions were corrected When the tanks
first appeared many officers of the
line were skeptical As yet they coulf
praise nothing but the old standbys.
infantry, cavalry and artillery. This
prejudice operated in many cases to
prevent the fullest cooperation be-
tween tanks and other arms.
After the Arst use Of tanks the
enemy constructed obstacles on the
roads. but since tanks could cross tho
fields as WELL these were of little use.
Armor piercing bullets, hand gre
nades in bundles and lnog rang ar
tillery fire were tried: These had little
effect against the heavier armor used.
A special 13-millimeter anti-tank
rifle was developed and issued to the
troops in July. This rife had little
effect on tanks, but great effect on the
enemy soldier who fired 1t. The recoil
was so great that 1t is said soldier
never fired more than one shot Field
guns were told off to fire on tanks.
rage. airplane cooperation and bet
ter maneuvering. Anti-tank mines
were laid everywhere and although
successful In many cases. means were
found of overcoming them. Areas
were flooded with water and lines Of
resista nee established behind canals
and other bodies of water Methods
that very little was gained. The in
creased mobility Of later tanks and
a better understanding of their use
were kept far ahead of anti-tank
measures.
1t is interesting to note that the
enemy displayed no initiative in tho
development Of tanks. Although
tank corps had been organized and
tanks built. they played an unimpor-
tant part in the enemy's attacks. The
German minister Of war. in response
to criticism for the inactivity Of Gsr-
man tanks. explained this on the
ground that tanks were very dtflcu1t
to develop and produce. The German,
tanks which have been captured coma
pare very unfavorably with allied ma;
chimes. They were slow. stuck easily
troubles. II fJt
Even though good tanks could hAvk
been built. 1t is doubtful II the person
mel for an efficient tank corps could
have been found and trained in time
to make them effective. Esprit de
corps Is not developed over night.
AoSSiS0 oi tuC &II VI ntH1A. IHGy
lay down the general principles as
to the use Of the primary arms with
due regard to their characteristics
and with view to obtaining close
corporation between the various
arms. Since the war Of position first
made it's appearance-the one and only
one aim of tactics has been tho
"break- through" This is at present
the alpha and omega of it's teachings.
A new weapon for break through
has arrived, namely the tank. .yTyi
Present developments in mechantcaj
warfare have barely scratched The
skin Of possibilities. Money musts,bs
spent on design. inventive genius. en-
couraged. initiative developed. sJ,s
Germany was successful In the early
days OF the war on account Of the
comparative perfection Of her weap-
ons Mechanics will revolutionixe the
science of warfare. Millions Of meh
In the field. men to train, clothe, feed.
transport and care for will soon be
q memory of yesterday. In their place
will come new machines Of war me-
chanically operated.
The army Of the future will not De
measured In terms Of men. but in
terms of mechanical improvements
''St, "'F'f ,,"t - eLt tWii 8
. 2aIsL E