THE WESTERN LINES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11509, 4 October 1915, Page 1

THE WESTERN LINES.

VAST SUBTERRANEAN WORKS. , the value of artillery A correspondent of the " San Francisco Chronicle " j»ives an idea of what the Allies must overcome if their offensive movement is to succeed: An explanation of why so little progress is being made in the French and Belgian war zones so far as actual ground-gaining is concerned, he writes, is afforded in a statement from unquestionable authority, in which the almost insurmountable difficulties of the present straggle are set forth. " During the last; six months," says this authority, " from the North Sea to the Swiss mountains there has been veritable siege warfare along the length of the broken line of trenches. In this warfare all strategetic manoeuvres are absent because manoeuvres, are impossible on ground where every square metre is marked and swept by artillery fire. The only alternative is a' frontal attack. Such an attack is smashed to pieces in one part or another against the formidable organisations of defence, in which all the resources of art and science have been employed by the two adversaries. CONCRETE UNDERGROUND WORKS. "In concrete subterranean works, armoured and casemeuted, flanked wi„h rapid-firers and mortars, and linked to one another hy rriarvellously concealed communicating trenches which are protected by .the tire of heavy batteries, dwell the infantry abundantly provided with rifles and hand grenades. To take possession of one of these works it is first necessary to dismantle these trenches and destroy the material which th«jr shelter. This is the artillery's tasfc. "No;one before the war could have imagined the vast amount of shells required. Several thousand shells fired during a few hours on a restricted space announce an attack for which this preparation is made "But no matter how numerous the heavy guns or how well directed their fire, it often happens that the preparation has been insufficient. One or two rapid-firers mow down the troops who climb from the trenches ready for the charge, and, after suffering heavy sacrifices, the attacking party arrive at, the first line of the trenches of _ the; enemy. The opposing artillery, with a literal wall of fire, effectively prevents any reinforcements from advancing to their support. They must fortify the cap tired trenches, being subjected the while to much more accurate bombardment, as ths enemy knows the _ exact valine of their former positions."