The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-09-10
DECEIVED BY
GERMAN STRATEGY
CONTINUED from Page ~

for home defense, was fixed at 2,400,-
600. Giving the French 1,400, 900,
and adding the British reinforce
ments of fully $50. 900 and the Bel
gians OF approximately 100000 more.
there would be a total of 1,750,000.
Disparity in Forces.
Such a force ought to be able, if
properly used, to give a good account
of itself in a defensive war against
an army of even the German full
strength, in view of the comparative
difficulties which beset an invading
army, with it's long lines of commu-
nication that must be preserved at
all costs.
But with the German surplus avail
able to hold 400, 900 or 100000
French troops on the Lorraine and
Alsace frontiers, the disparity be-
m at once apparent in the north
east. 1t would not take more than
100000 of the Germans to hold at
least as many French in check in this
way, and the result would be that
France would have only 0 1000 for
her centre and left, together with
the British $50, 900 and the remains
of the Belgian army not already de-
stroyed in Belgium itself or cooped
up in Antwerp-believed to be only
about $4,000 men. Here then is a
total of only 100000 opposed to
practically 1000, 900 men.
Another fact now remains for con-
s%ideration. In the centre the Ger
man sen two armies through the
L%uXumburg district whose total was
probably 100000 or 100000 men.
and in order to hold them back it
must have numbered about the same.
With equal numbers in front of
them, these armies have not been able
to make the same progress into
Belgium, but they have served to in
crease greatly the numerical super
iority of the northern army. For
this remained at fully 100000
men, while the French opposition,
including British and Belgians, had
dwindled to barely 100000.
1t is now easy to perceive why
the allies left has had to retire.
Against 1,50O, 600 such perfectly or
ganized troops as the Germans have
shown themselves to be, no 5000 O0
men could hope to offer an effective
assistance And wen putting the
German losses at 100000 as has been
calculated by some, in this army
alone, there would still be 100000
fighting men left against the allies,
Ii have probably lost close to 100,.
600 men
Losses of Allies. 1
This latter calculation is based or
the already admitted losses of the
British force, amounting to $4,000
out of a fighting strength of less thar
ten times that number. 1t is not be
lieved that the admitted lists repre-
sent by any means all the losses the
British have suffered, and it is under
stood that the French percentage O
loss has been still higher than tn,
British.
With every allowance made fol
non-effectives. casualties, covering
troops for the transports, lines o,
communication, etc, it seems to b.
evidence that the Germans mus
have a force of fully 100000 within
Il few miles of Paris, a force probab
ly already increased by junction
with the 500, 000 or more under Gems
Won Buelow and Won Hansen, who
have driven in the French left eel
tire and marched past Rheims with
out encountering any opposition.
The allies must therefore be pre-
pared to face in the neighborhood OF
Paris an aggressive enemy, flushed
with continued success, of almos
100000 effective fighting men
What can they oppose to such
tremendous force?
Their forces in the Lorraine ant
Vosges districts are still in toucl
with the enemy there. and if the.
are withdrawn they will be at one,
released to join the rest of the Ger
mans around Paris. The junction
of the French center and left, if prac
ticable, would increase the allies
strength to about 1000, OOO men. blu
here again is the danger of releas
ing another German army.
In the meantime it is certain thu
central government that is nov
working solely for the national de
Tense. the mobilization of the last re
serves, must be we'll under way. l,
Paris it is believed that 800, 900 me
have been concentrated, and anothe
army has been modified in TIL
TIE WE