Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1918 — TANKS ARE FEARED BY ARMY OF ENEMY [ARTICLE]

TANKS ARE FEARED BY ARMY OF ENEMY

Increasing Use of of Assault” Causes Alarm Among the Germans. ADOPT NEW DEFENSE METHOD Counter Measures Regard Cannqn as Best Suited for Repulsing Monsters—Hand Grenades Considered Useless by Authorities. With the French Armies. —The alarm with which the Germans view the increasing use of tanks and “chariots of assault” by the allied armies in their attacks is indicated by the following rules, which are taken from a general order, dated November. 27, 1917, captured from .the group of armies of Caudry: “Obstacles —Trenches of a minimum width of from 13 to 16% feet and a depth of at least ten feet, also a very thick mud, constitute very serious obstacles against tanks. Freshly plowed land or barricades are easily crossed. “It is not worth while constructing obstacles; it is preferable to attack. Guns Are Essential. “Methods of attack— Artillery: Tanks on the march should be attacked by the artillery before their entry into action, even if there is not a great chance of hitting them. ' The essential thing is to forbid the enemy Infantry to follow them; it is necessary that the enemy infantrymen fear the zone over which the tanks are advancing. “To attack the tanks themselves, the only reasonable method is to place the cannon in the advanced zone of the battlefield, so that they may be able immediately to put the tanks out of

action by direct hits. Every shot which hits the mark kills several men of the crew and often sets fire to. the tank. The artillery sections which are held in reserve back of the front do not know what is going on, and in general arrive too late to be of use. “The cannon, in principle, should ba placed far In advance; thus the enemy is not able to surprise us. “The commander of the front line troops should be responsible for the placing of antitank cannon. Pieces mounted on auto trucks are very useful, if the roads are good. Infantry Should Be Repulsed. “Infantry—The line of battle must not be opened, except to allow Intact tanks to pass; the troops may seek cover, but should not fall back. It is necessary that the tanks should be put out of action back of the line. The main thing is to, repulse the enemy infantry. Several posts should be detached behind the front for the defense against the tanks. “Armament The most efficacious weapon against the tanks is the armorpiercing bullet/ It is feared by the crews of the tanks, because it pierces the armor and produces at the same time a great flame, which frequently sets fire to reservoir. “The best method of attacking a tank is to attack it from the rear, because it is not easy for its crew to Are from behind, and because the tear is the part the least protected. ( Street fighting against the tanks is very favorable to the infantry; the troops shelter themselves in the houses, let the tanks pass, then open fire with machine guns and rifles from close range. “Hand grenades, employed one at a time, are useless. It is necessary to employ a concentrated charge (several cylinders grouped around a central grenade), and throw it but this is not easy to no. "Light trench cannpn/(minenwerferF are efficacious whgn/they are fired from a feeble angle; good results have been obtained by the fire of isolated pieces. “In general, the tactics to employ against the tanks must be made the object of theories and practical experiences; the tanks will thus lose their terrifying effect”