Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 152, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1915 — FRENCH TRENCHES IN GEARMAN STYLE [ARTICLE]

FRENCH TRENCHES IN GEARMAN STYLE

Lieutenant of Engineers Concedes the Kaiser’s Defenses are Buperlor to All Others Paris (by mail).—French military man era willing to admit In private they have learned many lessons from the Germans. Few, however, are as frank as a Lieutenant of Engineers Interviewed In Paris. •*1 have been engaged since the beginning of the war,” he said, “in constructing second line trenches, on which the allied forces ckn fall back In the event of repulse. At first we dug our trenches in accordance with plans that had been carefully worked out by the war department and were believed to be the last word in the sapper's art But after a few of the German defenses had been captured we began to ask ourselves whether we had ever known our business. The German trenches were infinitely superior to ours. They were at the same him elaborate and simple—elaborate in the protection they afforded the men who had to defend them, yet easy to construct when one had acquired the knack. A notable feature was the system of wooden supports, which made possible the excavation of subterranean chambers for the bousing of officers aad wounded. “We were not flattered, I can assure you, to find how badly we had been beaten at oqr own game. But we decided to pat oar pride In oar pockets and get the fall benefit of the object lesson that tha fortunes of war spread before our eyes. We commenced to the German trenches slavishly. Today the French army from one end of the line to the other is digging Its trenches a la Kaiser, fighting behind Teutonic earthworks, and the result has been a decrease in casualties. “Bat this scientific war of molee has lad to a deadlock. Ido not see bow in «h«ii aver be able to drive the enemy from their positions or how they can dislodge as. The loss of life to the attacking forces would be too great. 1 believe that when the time is ripe the Allies will commence a voluntary retreat. The Germans will pursue os and battle will be delivered in the open country. Fighting on our own soil, we should win. as we did at the battle of the Marne. That is the only way in which the present intoler able situation can be ended." The same officer confirmed the rumors to the effect that the Germans »»fa prepared military defenses in nance before the war. *T l*ave seen many gun platforms,” he said, “on property teat had been acquired by tee Germane. On the promises gt a roust company we found a series of tranches at least a year old. They were on the line od the Genua advance on Paris.”