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Show CHANGES IN METHODS OF WARFARE. Comparing the battle of Arras with the battle of the Marne in importance, and commenting on the changed method of warfare, the San Francisco Chronicle reaches the conclusion that the end of the trench deadlock on the western front has been reached. Showing the different stages of fighting, fight-ing, the Chronicle presents these facts: "At the beginning of the war Germany Ger-many sprang a surprise in the form of sixteen-inch guns, which, in astonishingly astonish-ingly short time, made dust and ashes of the most admantine fortifications. Liege, Namur and Antwerp, believed to be impregnable, and actually demonstrated dem-onstrated as effective against infantry, infan-try, light and medium artillery, crumbled to pieces when stormed by howitzers. Then came the trenches, against which the enormous siege guns were powerless. It was one thing to pound at a definite mark in the shape of steel and concrete buttressed butt-ressed forts, and quite another dropping drop-ping ton shells into rows and rows of trenches stretching for miles and capable cap-able of being repaired almost as quickly quick-ly as they were destroyed. Two years ago nothing else was so much talked of as those Irresistible siege guns; since then they have counted for very little. They were brought up to Verdun, Ver-dun, but when they had done their worst, Germany was no nearer to capturing cap-turing the city, and for the simple reason rea-son that the trench had superseded the obsolete fort. For nearly two years the trench was the supreme method of warfare. Given opposing armies of anything like equal forces, equipment and valor, and there was no breaking its deadlock over an extended ex-tended line. Then in June of last year came the perfection of the barrage, bar-rage, or 'curtain of fire.' The sido with superiority in number, quality and accuracy of artillery could spray the enemy trenches as with a garden hose, Its infantry calmly advancing, not rushing, under the curtain which was lifted and extended to the next line when the men were near enough to jump into the pits and engage the demoralized foe." - |