Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-11-05
$4,000 In Battle Line.
Allies Numerically Superior TO
The Germans, Is Estimate.

Ihe Germans. Is EStlHldtC.
Paris, Oct. 2l.-Precise informa-
ton upon the number of men engag-
ed in particular actions on amy part
of the Allies 3OO-mile battle line in
France and Belgium is never known
outside of a small group of men who
surround General Joffre, the French
communicating chief. This is the un-
satisfactory feature about all the in
formation coming from the front.
One hears of great Iattles with ter
rife losses, sometimes estimated TO-
600 or %, 600 a day, but without any
accurate news as to how many men
were engaged on either side.
But when it comes to the relative
size of the armies engaged in the
western fed of war something like
general accuracy is obtainablr. Com
petent persons attached to the French
War Office estimate that the Germans
have in Belgium, in France and along
the German frontier to Switz rland
about 1,750, 900 men. The French
and English undoubtedly have Il
numerical superiority. Possibly the
Allies, including Belgium have =, 225'
600 men on or near the fighting lines.
No fewer than 100000 British
soldiers are under the ord rs of Field
Marshall Sir John French ON the fir
ing lines at this time. Beyond these,
however, there are many auxiliary
troops ON duty at the transport and
supply base. This army acts as II
complete unit in con- junction with
their French comrades under the
command of General .Jotfre.
The British base is near a port on
the English Channel and the field OF
action of the British troops is near
the Belgian frontier and in Belgium
itself Virtually all the British sold
iers IN the field of all branches of the
army are men with cOnsid 'rablr
lmount of service, many Of them
having had from 10 to II years train
ing, and having participated in Great
Britain's little wars" in various
parts of the world. The gaps in their
ranks are filled by re-enliSted men
who have FASTENED back to the army
ut Lord kitchener's call.
The question, then, is, Why do
not tn" Allies turn the Germans out
Of France and Belgium? One reason
is that the power of the defense is
greater, with modern weapons and
intrenchments, than the power of
offense. There is probably no posi-
ton on the whole line that either
army could not take if it was deter
mined to do 50. 1t is simply a ques
ton of concentrating sufficient forces
on that point and suffering the inev-
liable losses. Masses can take any
position, military masters affirm,
only the price must be paid in losses.
A position is taken at loss greater
than has been inflicted and the win
ners, upon advancing, find them
selves against another position, which
also may be taken. Only, if this
operation is repeated often enough,
the numerical superiority of the at
tack will become an infcriorhy as the
weeks 60 on and the war will be lost.
General Joffre and Field Marshal
French are careful OF the lives Of
their men. They seek to accomplish
large results by letting the Germans
attack under unfavorablc circum-
stances, when they will do 50, and
the Allied commanders appear to
consider that the Germans may be
engaged to greater advantage in
France and in Belgium than in Ger
many.
France still has probably 100000
men capable of bearing arms, most
of them under arms, who have never
been to the front. There are the very
young men and the reserves of the
Older classes who are being trained
for taking their places on the battle
lines and to serve as the material for
repairing the wastage. France, there
fore, can lose 100000 men and yet
maintain her gigantic armies on the
fighting lines at their present strength.
The same thing may be true of Ger
many-it possibly is-and therefore
military observers in Paris cannot be-
lieve in a short and decisive war.
The immense operations which have
already taken place are looked upon
as merely the beginning, as merely