VICTORY BY ATTRITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16129, 18 January 1916, Page 6

VICTORY BY ATTRITION.

ISSUE OF MODERN WAR. GERMAN FORETHOUGHT. ALLIED REORGANISATION. London, January 16. "Writing in the London Daily Chronicle. Mr. 11. G. Wells, pays a striking tribute to German thoroughness and adaptability. A Russian named Rloeh, prior to the Boer j war. declared that war was a stalemate because 1 when the combatants I were fairly equal the increasing de- ! fensive efficiency of entrenched infantry nullified the most brilliant j strategy in attacks, while superior ! numbers resulted in a deadlock. .Mr. ! Wells points out that the Germans ; studied Bloeh, who has not been | translated into English. The Gcr- ! mans correctly thought that their j 101 I army would be opposed by an enemy retaining the methods of 1900 i When the Germans built their ; strategic railways Franco should have prepared the most complete trench works. The Germans, Mr. ; Wells, declares, should never have j passed Liege or the Ardennes.

'' One of the marvellous maxims of the dark ages, which seems to be the chief reading of our military experts, states that an army which entrenches itself is defeated," says Mr. Wells. " Until the battle of the "Manic proved the value of the loose mobile 1000 pattern, the Germans were confident of their overwhelming numbers. Then they abruptly changed their game, and adopting 191-1 rules entrenched, offering an opportunity to the British sporting instincts. The Germans, however, did not expect the allies to modernise so soon. They calculated on achieving victory with the allies still 15 years behind."

Mr. Wells adds: ""We must not ! expect a triumphal entry into Lon- . don. Paris, Berlin, or Moscow. : Bloch's prophecies have been justified on the east front, the west ; front, and at Gallipoli. Unless a i sudden peace occurs, the deadlock |of which the Balkans is only a j dramatic, tragic, and spectacular, j but inconclusive sequel, can end only in the succumbing of the most exhausted of the immobilised and i shattered antagonists