THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2837, 31 July 1916, Page 4

THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME

LIiCTUUE BY MAJOR SLEEMAN. A very interesting lecture on ' "Tho Present Operations on the Western Front: Their' Success and Difficulties, and Prospects in the Near Future" was delivered by Major J. L. Slceman, Director of Military Training, to garrison officers at the Garrison Officers' Club on Friday evening. There was a large attendance, and the lecfurer was listened to with, the utmost attention. Major Sleeman explained how the first, second, and third lines of trenches really represented an advance over several miles of country, and moreover the talcing of strong ami carefully selected German positions that had Ixien prcparod with the greatest caro to resist tho heaviest attacks. By means of illustrations, ha showed the present system of German defences, which, briefly, consist of chains of'trenches .periodically strengthened by fortified villages, woods, and . redoubts concealed from distant view. No matter, he said, how efTectiye. a modern artillery bombardment might be, it whs still possible for a good, proportion of machineguns and men to survive. Particularly was this tho case in regard to fortified villages on the French front, where the houses were generally of some considerable strength, and even when blown u.p by artillery fire created cover behind which machine-gun emplacements were moder. atcly secure. In his opinion the liearicfl part of the attack, so far as attacking immensely strong positions was concerned, was over, and the tactical features which still had ip be met were less formidable than thoso already overcome; The knowledge that even their strongest positions could be taken with tho rapid, ity with which those on the Sommc had been must, he concluded, be very dieheartening to the Germans, 'who had relied upon being able to hold up even a great attack. The lecturer was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.