The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1915. WAR DEVELOPMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1915. WAR DEVELOPMENTS.

An "American who spent seven months in the war zone under circumstances which gave him unusual and favorable opportunities of observing developments and of gaining first-hand information from high officials, lias presented many facts of a novel and instructive character in a volume which he has recently published. 'Dealing with the, question of casualties in the war thie author states that the approximate 1 ratio of deaths to total casualties fori the first six months of the war was: British, two deaths to eleven casualties; Geamian, two deaths to nine casualties; French, two deaths to seven casualties; and Austrian, two deaths to seven casualties. The low rate of mortality among thetßritish was due to the great number <X motor ambulances which they possessed, to the smallness of their army, to the efficiency which they cared for tliie wounded, and to the short distance which separated their forces from the home country. The large of French deaths was due to the fact [that in the early part of the war most actions were German victories, and that the Germans did not care for the French wounded as well as they did their owjn. Further, France suffered through lack! of sanitary skill in taking care of the wounded. In considering the .infantry, thej .author says his observations show that' the important qualifications for an infantryman are three—to be able to dig, jto be able to hide, and to 'be able to shjoot. At the beginning of the war the French paid little attention to any of thie three. The men were dressed in uniforms so conspicuous that hiding was impossible, and it is estimated that the showy French uniform caused from 3OO;O00 to 400,000 extra casualties. Of the shooting capabilities of the average European soldier, the American observer has a very poor opinion. The British arc tliie only troops I to shoot with any degree of excellence. It is so superior to the Germans' that a British battalion of 1100.« men usually has a firing effect equal to that of a German regiment of newly 3000 men. The French infantryman is, however, an even poorer shot than the 'German, and this is not to be wondered at, for, prior to the war, the only shooting the French soldier ever did was gallery shooting at a range of about fifty yards. Of the uniforms worn 'by the various armies, the German uniform is the most nearly perfect, and is virtually invisible at short range if the soldier is not moving. The German helmet is easily the best headgear in the matter of invisibility. It'sits tightly on the head, and owing to its shape it seldom casts a shadow. On the grey-green backgrounds of Europe the British khaki is not conspicuous, but at the same time it is (certainly visible. The British hat is the most conspicuous headgear in the war, since its rim casts a heavy black shadow, and its flat top shows white in the sunlight. The heads of the British in the trenches ! thus stand out distinctly. European i officers, states this keenly observant American, have maintained their faith in the bayonet as a weapon. This is particularly the case with the French and the Austrians. The Germans are the only fighters who prefer shooting as against cutting. There is no doubt at all that in the case of the French the idea is to win the final decision with the Jjayonet—with '•Rosalie.'' The widespread belief in the bayonet by Europeans, the author thinks, is due to their inability to shoot well. Indeed, lie believes it is impossible to teach Europeans to shoot with an degree of effe-tiveness whatever. But lie is of the opinion that a trained shot with a short and handy rifle could fili his magazine just before the enemy's charge and stop lour or five men armed with bayonets or any other edged weapons. To do this the soldier must., of course, shoot to a purpose, not like the German infantryman, who seems to shoot as often and as rapidly as possible. Of the fighting qualities of the nations engaged in the wai, those of the British rank highest. .Even the Germans adm.it this. JJodei.

the most trying circumstances they arc calm and often cheerful. In neither victory nor defeat do they lose control of themselves, and when they are surrounded or hopelessly defeated they fight best of all. The German soldiers have a dogged courage and expose themselves with 'bravery and enthusiasm in any undertaking. When they are once started they are difficult to stop. On an advance, the author computes, a 50 per cent, loss is necessary to make them hesitate, and on the defence they are extremely tenacious. The French are braver in a more spectacular war. They are better winners than the Germans and worse losers. Their temperament leads them to push home a success with more enthusiasm than the Germans, but in defeat they are less reliable. Nevertheless, the French soldier, though his physique does not approach that of the German, is very wiry, and he has good stamina, especially in the matter of marching.