NEW PHASE OF GERMAN STRATEGY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2530, 3 August 1915, Page 5

NEW PHASE OF GERMAN STRATEGY

VON MACK.ENSEN EMULATES ALEXANDER THE GREAT,

■ , . ' . , Paris, August 1. A Russian general who fought in-the recent Galician campaign states; "It was easily seen in November that a new star was rising in the German army, General von Mackensen succeeding Field-Marshal. von Hindenburg, whose methods were without value rfgainst Russian strategy. Tho Russians at Lodz noticed the change in the German attack, 'which consisted of choosing a giv.en spot and throwing all the available forces at it, no matter what the obstacles. Alexander tho Great used this method, but insteadi of a forest of ■lances Mackensen used artillery. Ho places guns in three or foiir rows; first the field guns, then tho medium guns, then the 6-inch and 8-inch, and lastly 9-inch and 12-inch. Jt'was only possible to reply with a similar equipment. The opposing guns wero ordinary field guns, and -tliey failed to reach -the enemy's heavy guns, and wero simply, sliot to pieces by tho enemy's 12-inch guns. ■ t ■ '

"How the Infantry Advance. "General Mackensen also dispenses with attacks in close formation. The following is an actual attack, which is fairly typical of the new method: A German battalion had to cover half a mile across an open road from one forest to another. When the head of the column appeared a Russian battery fired «. rain of shrapnel. Tlio Germans halted; tlien a few soldiers started at "an easy run, using many paths, and reached tho other forest. The Russian battery could not fire shrapnel at a single soldier, and it was hopeless to shell the Forest, so tliey had to watch tho German advance for an hour and a half. When sufficient Germans had gathered to attack trcnchcs they commenced the attack in single file, using every imaginable, cover.. When within fifty paces of the objective trenches the attackers lay down, opened a violent rifle fire, which prevented 'accurate reply, and enabled tho second German detachment to come up to, the first line. They two-thirds of tho effectives in tho second half, but tho loss in succeeding ones is correspondingly loss. But tho Germans do not throw themselves at the trenches until six detachments are thus massed.

"The shortcomings of Mackensen's tactics are his dependence on artillery, good weather, and good roads. Tho winter will help the Russians. It is only a question of time before we master the Germans."

COSTLINESS OF MACKENSEN'S GREAT EFFORT. (Rec. : August 3, 0.10 a.m.) , London, August 2. Casualties published in Berlin of tho Prussian Guards in May and June show the costliness of General Mackensen's methods. In thirty-five battalions there were 14,191 casualties, of whom one-quarter wero killed, while hundreds of others are missing. The casualties of the 2nd Footguards wero 741, and the 4th Guards 999. Three battalions of the Fusilier Guard.; lost 2576. The figures do not include the losses in tho reserves.