The measures of defence were ill devised and carelessly used.
In the autumn of 1917, it will be remembered that the Germans had captured a number of our Mark IV. machines.
These they used for the purposes of propaganda, parading them in the streets of Berlin and showing them to the Army, as a man might demonstrate the harmless nature of snakes by the aid of a tame cobra.
The infantry were lectured to about the miseries endured by the crews who manned Tanks, as to their mechanical defects, their vulnerability and general worthlessness. For example, the following passage appeared in an Order issued to the 7th German Cavalry Division. It will be gathered from the text that the Order was illustrated by detailed drawings.
“7th Cavalry ‘Schützen’ Div. Div. H.Q. 26.9.18.
“Subject:—Anti-Tank Defence.
“Divisional Order
“1. General.
“The infantry must not let itself be frightened by Tanks. The fighting capacity of the Tank is small owing to the bad visibility, and the shooting of the machine-guns and guns is cramped and inaccurate as the result of the motion.
“It has been proved that the Tank crews are nervous and are inclined to turn back, or leave the Tank, even in the case of limited fire effects, such as a light T.M. (Trench Mortar) barrage at 800–1000 yards. In order to make it more difficult for the artillery, the Tanks pursue a zigzag course towards their objective.