DIRECTING A BATTLE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 55, 4 March 1916, Page 7

DIRECTING A BATTLE.

THE MODERN GENERAL AT WORK,

These are no longer the days when generals direct military operations from an eminence overlooking the field of battle. A fighting line of to-day is controlled from a central office', where sits tlie General Staff. The headquar-

.tors of on army corps division and bri- | gade arc the branch offices. | In a room at the general's headquarI tors there is a table about 25ft square. On that table is a relief map, built in j clay. Tliat may shows the ■whole bati tie line. Every feature of the land-

senrio is depicted—every river, every road, every hill, every hollow, tree

oach trail, field, forest, culvert, ditch. i’Aice, mountain, is physically repre-sx-nted on the map. Along each -section of the front a number of movable blocks are placed. These blocks represent units of the army—a corps, a division, a brigade, even a battalion, each varrying in size. The approximate force of the enemy is also thus depicted. With this great map before him the general meets every attack and conn ter-attack. every move of his enemy In the room adjoining is a telegrap' office. In times of activity as many an 500 or 1,000 telegrams (call them telegrams, although if they ar e in military language they mean dispatches) arrive in a day.

The telegraphic and telephonic aids of file general compile and classify all in formation instantaneously for , tin commander-in-chief.

T-'i3 great man is left alone with his maps. His mind concentrates upon the infonnationo he has received. He foresees the object of his enemy. A few blbcks are moved on the map.

In an instant the thousands of wires that spread out from the headquarters are vibrating with the message from the chief. Thousands of soldiers are set marching, artillery moves from

point to point. The supply waggons everywhere'follow th e fighting forces—and ambulances and fold hospitals fob

low tli? ammunition trains

Like clockwork at the appointed hour a bombardment begins. It mav last days, day and night, before the in.antry charge is ordered. Thus begins a great battle. After th 0 commander has given his orders he may rest. Really t-aat is the only time when ho can rest.