“From statements of prisoners, it appears that they have been greatly disappointed by the moral effect produced by their heavy guns, which, despite the actual losses inflicted, has not been at all commensurate with the colossal expenditure of ammunition which has really been wasted.

“By this it is not implied that their artillery fire is not good.  It is more than good—­it is excellent.  But the British soldier is a difficult person to impress or depress, even by immense shells filled with a high explosive, which detonate with terrific violence and form craters large enough to act as graves for five horses.

“The German howitzer shells are from eight to nine inches in calibre, and on impact they send up columns of greasy black smoke.  On account of this they are irreverently dubbed ‘coal boxes,’ ‘Black Marias,’ or ’Jack Johnsons’ by the soldiers.

“Men who take things in this spirit are, it seems, likely to throw out the calculations based on loss of morale so carefully framed by the German military philosophers.

“The German losses in officers are stated by our prisoners to have been especially severe.  A brigade is stated to be commanded by a major; some companies of foot guards by one-year volunteers; while after the battle of Montmirail one regiment lost fifty-five out of sixty officers.

LETTER FOUND ON GERMAN OFFICER

“The following letter, which refers to the fighting on the Aisne and was found on a German officer of the Seventh Reserve Corps, has been printed and circulated to the troops: 

“’Cerny, South of Paris, Sept 17.—­My Dear Parents:—­Our corps has the task of holding the heights south of Cerny in all circumstances till the Fourteenth Corps on our left flank can grip the enemy’s flank.  On our right are other corps.  We are fighting with the English guards, Highlanders and Zouaves.  The losses on both sides have been enormous.  For the most part this is due to the too-brilliant French artillery.

“’The English are marvelously trained in making use of ground.  One never sees them and one is constantly under fire.  The French airmen perform wonderful feats.  We cannot get rid of them.  As soon as an airman has flown over us, ten minutes later we get shrapnel fire in our position.  We have little artillery in our corps; without it we cannot get forward.

“’Three days ago our division took possession of these heights and dug itself in.  Two days ago, early in the morning, we were attacked by immensely superior English forces—­one brigade and two battalions—­and were turned out of our positions.  The fellows took five guns from us.  It was a tremendous hand-to-hand fight.

“’How I escaped myself I am not clear.  I then had to bring up support on foot.  My horse was wounded and the others were too far in the rear.  Then came up the Guard Jager Battalion, Fourth Jager, Sixth Regiment, Reserve Regiment Thirteen, and Landwehr Regiments Thirteen and Sixteen, and, with the help of the artillery, we drove the fellows out of the position again.  Our machine-guns did excellent work; the English fell in heaps.