Geweher 7.7 281(e)

[Surpmil]

Sounds more like making use of weapons that were in dire need and ammunition at hand. Weapons don't last very long in those conditions, testimony from men that were there show destruction of weapons in short order. They have to be replaced somehow.

Yes, that's exactly what they were doing and of course it was done in a thorough and organized manner; it's the German army isn't it?

We know from the photographic evidence that use was made of captured Vickers and Lewis guns; that may have been purely local at times. In fact even if there was a policy of collecting such weapons centrally, we know that soldiers in many armies often retain captured weapons for their own use, if their immediate superiors overlook or permit it.

The SMLE probably held little attraction for the average German soldier; they would naturally tend to believe the Mauser was superior. A Maxim-type MG or Lewis gun would be much more attractive.

Obviously rifles would not have been issued to formations until they had been cleaned and inspected and the troops trained in their use. That doesn't happen on the way to the front.