GERMANS STUDY NATURE OF FOES.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 November 1917, Page 3

GERMANS STUDY NATURE OF FOES.

The German is a psychologist. Not a good one—but in his fighting on the Western front ho makes good use of a certain insight into the different racial characteristics of the English and the French. 'A British military expert has pointed out the difference in the ways the Germans meet rthe offeilsivei of the two countries. “When the British hammer a certain sector into pulp, and then launch an attack/’ ho said “the German generals withdraw all but a few machine gunners from the first line' trenches, leaving these to hold out as long as possible and face certain deatn or capture They know that tue Eiltlsh are going io get to their objective. ‘ ‘ The main body of their men are rushed back to reserve trenches in the rear, where they prepare for a coun-ter-attack. Tney feel fairly certain that the British will reach their objective, consolidate it, and stay there. 1 ‘ On the other hand, against the French they adopt just the opposite tactics. They crowd just as many as possible into the front linos. Macliine gunners, bombers and riflemen are packed in like sardines. “They adopt this course because they appreciate the Latin temperamne of the average Frenchman. They know that if they can administer a severe check early in the fighting, the French will fall back, while If the tricolour .once gets; through it’s quite likely to sweep on to a tremendous victory. ’ ’