New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-13
Germany Steadily Losing
Advantage in Numbers
Held at Start.
Modified ALREADY
NEARLY TO LAST MAN
Superiority in Quality of His
Soldiers Was General Jof-
fre's First Demand.
By C. NMAN BARNARD.

rpsa, corr,,pondeot Of The New York Tribunal
Bar-le-Duc, Dec. 12.-Since the be-
thinning of the war Germany has pos
sessed one superiority over France
that of numbers. Germany, with peace,
has an active army Of 100000 men, and
passed each year $4,000 into the re-
serve. while France, with peace, has an
active army OF barely half million
and was able only TO accumulate re-
serves at the rate of 100000 men
year. 3,
AS a consequence Germany was able
to put a large number of young re-
servists in the field. In order TO put an
army of equal numbers in the field the
French government would have had TO
send to the front men four or five years
older than the German contingents,
men who had in that time lost TO a cor
responding degree. With the army
these men are in no way inferior to the
men of the active army. They, how
ever, require a month or two OF stiff
training to bring back their military
efficiency.
Joffre Wanted Quality.
General Joffre showed his confidence
in his army by resolutely undertaking
the struggle with inferior numbers on
his side. He relied on the superiority
of quality over mere quantity, and the
troops under his command completely
justified his confidence. but at the same
time the French War Office was work
ing night and day for a numerical
equality. Germany knew this and
hurled ever fresh levies into the fight
ing line. The reserves and landwehr
were modified, and four weeks ago
the landsturm, or levee en- masse, COM
posed of boys from seventeen TO twenty
and men from forty-flve to sixty was
incorporated.
Germany has shot her bolt. She has
realized the Kaiser's phrase: HThe last
man." in his proclamation at the be
ginning of the war. His majesty also
added "last horse" This may come,
too, if all stories of the condition Of
the German cavalry, artillery and bag
gage train are true. Now the tables
are being turned, and France is produc-
ing trained soldiers by the hundreds OF
thousands with a precision and regu-
larity that would inspire respect even
in a Pomeranian unterofizier.
A million and half men of the ter
ritorials who have been in training
since the declaration of war are now
the fighting line. In addition TO the
younger element, men without family
ties, as the middle aged territorials,
who can be depended on for bayonet
charge and who bring into the grim
work of war the enthusiasm of youth
have been incorporated
A contingent of 1914, 100000 strong,
which should have Joined the colors in
November, but was prenaturely called
out in August, last week completed its
training and left for the fighting line.
Their places in the training depots
were st once taken by contingent OF
1915, which has been called out one
year before its time, as many men OF
that contingent volunteered for ser
vice as soon as war was declared. 1t
numbers only 100000, as compared with
100000 of the class of 1914. 1t will be
ready for the field in March, when IL
will be succeeded by the class of 1915.
With the territorials and the new
contingents France is therefore in a
position to pour 100000 fresh troops,
which have not yet fired a shot, into the
fighting line. England is pouring hun
dreds Of thousands of men into France
and has 100000 under training. The
Allies are thus increasing their strength
cNcTy udyt WHllt ms ulbD-
ilized her last man and is now fighting
desperate defensive battle. Every
town in France, from Marseilles to
Dunkirk, is gorged with troops, either
training or waiting orders to leave for
the front. In the last fortnight have
visited the principal centres on the
French frontier and on the fighting
line. At Chateau Thierry, Dormans.
Rheims, Epernay, Montchenot, Chalons-
sur-Marne, Vitry-le-Francois, Bar-le-
Due, Toul and Nancy the same spirit
prevails. The men Of every category,
young and old, are equally DESTROYS Of
being sent to the front The spirit ami
mating the territorial force-that IS
TO say, the men Of middle AGES one
Of grim determination, while that of
the young contingent is one of youth
full enthusiasm, which will spell the
bayonet and the lutte whom they get
within striking distance Of the Ger
mans.