The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1917. FAILURE OF GERMAN TACTICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1917. FAILURE OF GERMAN TACTICS.

The decision arrived at by the German High Command with regard to the imperative need for an alteration of tactics implies that the British methods of attack are of such superiority and of so destructive a nature that nothing but continuous defeats can be expected unless means are taken to prevent the terrible battering to which the German forces have been subjected. The character of this hurricane of shells is best gathered from the fact that the German troops were smashed before going into battle and the moral effect of this can easily be imagined. Another important admission is implied in the German order, namely, the superiority of the British air cavalry, to whose effective operations in locating defences and movements of troops the new German order is an eloquent tribute. It will be remembered that the Germans altered their tactics In order to hold their positions with a smaller number of men than formerly bo as to make the most of their strength and cover a more extended field of operations. In accordance with this plan their front lines were thinly held, assisted by eonc-nte emplacements and shelters, the bull, of the troops being held further back so as to be out of the stormed area and be readily available for concentrated counter attacks. The British aviators upset this scheme by locating the enemy forces and their hiding places, and this work they have performed most accurately. Hence the necessity for a change of tactics. Theoretically the Germans might, under other circumstances, have done well by having this thin, front line, backed by masses in the rear to a ?reat depth. They failed, however, to reckon with the new (British tactics which have proved so remarkably successful in placing the enemy at a great disadvantage and consequently facilitating the capture of enemy positions. Germany is now experiencing to tho full the developed might of British resources. ' "ever in the history of warfare has here been such terrible artillery work as the British have now brought to bear on the Germans, whose initial successes in the war were due to their preponderance of guns and shells. The tables have been turned with dramatic effect and the Germans are forced to adopt new methods or be pounded to fragments. Will their new tactics answer! That remains to bo seen. It is far easier to conceive a scheme than to make it effec-

ive. Apparently the German plan is now to so hide their defences and reserves as to prevent detection. If they n accomplish this they will certainly achieve a great saving of man power. At the samo time if it is to be a battle of brains they will make a fatal mistake by assuming they possess a superiority in this respect. So far not a Sngle conception on their part for secur:ig an advantage has been more' than temporarily successful, British skill and ingenuity having speedily gone one better. The zone of organised depth the Germans now -propose to adopt and hide as much as possible and make pro■ssively denser rearwards may have l attractive appearance on paper, but it certainly will not prevent British successes. It may prolong offensives by reason of the extra time required to reach these masses in the rear, but the Idea that such strategy will enable the enemy to pass from the defensive to the offensive is refreshingly amusing. Soon»r or later the massed forces must come Into contact with the attackers, and then ihc real struggle will take place. The game of hide and seek that the Germans propose to play is a remarkable admission of inferiority to the -British, and it

possesses elements of weakness that should serve to inspirit our men, because it denotes that the enemy is fearing- the destructiveness of British' artillery, it. •vonlil seem that the Germans arc adopting the same tactics with the army as

i the ease of the navy. They are afraid to come out in the open, but must hide in skilfully concealed craters, How are the mighty fallen ? They started the war in the utmost confidence of their invincibility and arc now reduced to Jurying themsoW-« in craters, their reatcst concern being the fear of discovery. Sir Douglas !laig and his staff may confidently be relied upon to deal with any new tactics the Germans may eVolve. Never during the past three years have the Anglo-French forces been in better heart. Their confidence has

rown to tho highest pitch and though they know that the work in front of them will tax all their energies they are eager for tho fray, and will not for a moment swerve from their determination to bring the struggle to a successful issue.