GERMAN GENERAL'S FRANK ADMISSION OF INFERIORITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 240, 7 October 1916, Page 5

GERMAN GENERAL'S FRANK ADMISSION OF INFERIORITY.

OUTGUNNED, OUTFLOWN, AND OUTFOUGHT. YON ARHIM CONFESSES ll'l'Tki*. FAIUTOE OP HIS WAR MACHZITC. GERMAN EQUIPMENT AN© RESERVES VERY FAULTY. \ I (Received 9.15 a.m.) LONDON. October 6. ✓ Mr. Philip Gibbs states that a report by General yon Arnini, commanding the Fourth German Corps against the British front on the Somme in July, has fallen into our hands. It analyses with impartial candour our qualities and the weaknesses and failures of his own organisation and leadership. Yon Arnim confesses the utter failure of his war machine, and acknowledges that British superiority has imposed an ever-increasing strain upon the German organisation. The effect of our artillery mastery and the Flying Corps' demoralisation of the enemy's command is admitted as the bitter fruit of experience. J- on Arnim says that the British infantry learnt much in the autumn offensive of 1915. It shows great dash in attack to which the great confidence in the overwhelming artillery contributes. The English have showed great tenacity in defence, while the artillery registration and fire control were assisted by well organised aerial observation. He recounts how the long range guns brought the German battle headquarters under fire, causing the officers to become panic-stricken.

The German artillery lias been much hampered by the steady intensity of British fire, which has also rendered enormously difficult the work of bringing up reserves. He confesses the utter failure of German counterattacks, which were delivered without method or weight. The numerical superiority of the enemy's airmen and the fact that their machines were better was disagreeably apparent. They are able to successfully fire on the German troops from a low elevation." He admits "that the German equipment and ammunition reserves are very faulty. The German machine-guns are too -heavy, and there is an insufficient supply of grenades. Yon Arnini does not suggest that the food supply of the army is insufficient, but says that it is difficult to get food into the front trenches. All other departments of German organisation were found wanting; and the war machine was thrown out of gear by the ferocity and continuance of the British assault.