New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-08
GERMANS BEATEN
DESPITE WARNING
British Observer Finds
Them Lacking in Men
and Spirit.
lBy Cahl. 70 The rrihunsl

Paris. Oct. 7 dispatch to the "Chron-
icle," London. The capture OF the
hamlet Of failure and the hill immedi-
ately north, called the Butte de Ia
bure i, a considerable mark of the
RESUMPTION OF the French offensive IN
Champagne and has besides great sig
nificance with regard TO tho whole posi-
ton in tho west.
The capture OF Tahure the thrust
furthest north of the French In Cham-
pagne-threaten the Germans on both
sides. The village, formerly hamlet
with les, than 200 inhabitants, IS
situated at lonely cross roads. II has
no Importance in itself save that as
we have learend by bitter experience,
ruined villages make better fortiiica-
tlons than General Brialments con-
crete and steel forts. The possession
of the cross roads is also something IN
this desolate countryside, where hIgn-
ways were so little needed.
The Butte de Tahure, Hill 1879, com
mands the valleys and lower hills for
some distance on either side. Nhether
in the artillery sense it Immediately
commands the Bazancourt- Challerange
Railway Is not quite clear. for there IS
a wooded hillside between. But tnat
line, so vital for all supplies and rein
forcements of the German 'front.' IN
Champagne is only two miles away. and
there is a tunnel at the nearest point
the destruction of which would put 1t
out of action. The next railway north
ward means retreat of ten miles.
Calls It a Great Feat.
While nothing is known yet of the
details of the fighting except that
thousands of prisoners were taken, this
must have been q great feat or arms.
II can hardly be said in extenuation
that there was any considerable ele-
ment of surprise. German prisoners
admit that the beginning of the often
give eleven days ago was expected. NOW
the enemy has had ten days more
notice, and on a ground OF great nat
ural strength he is still lacking. Thus
he had not been given any respite, and
four or five supplementary thrusts at
intervals along the new front may well
have left him uncertain where the
heavy blow would fall. Besrdes, he had
here particular interest 70 defend.
Germans Lack Four Essentials.
With a preoccupation so anxious and
with the dire knowledge Of $4,000 I'M
wounded men lost az prisoners and sew
eral scores of thousands more killed
or wounded on this narrow front, We
may be sure the German commanders
would do their very best. If they have
been unable not merely to attempt any
serious counter offensive, but also to
stem the progress OF the French as
saults, It has been assuredly for lack
Of four ssentials-men, material,
spirit and skill.
Consider the general situation in the
light OF this fact. Colonel Feyler
reckons that during the first year OF
the war the German total of men be
tween twenty and forty-ive available
for active services decreased 7,750,OOO
to 100000. and that this number would
fall to 100000 by the end Of the pres
ent month. During the last six months
casualties averaged 100000 a month,
and the present rate is much higher.
Few of those now wounded can hope TO
reioin before the end Of the war is
brought about by the exhaustion OF
German resources.
For the holding of the eastern and
western fronts against the enemy,
constantly reinforced, with 100000 or
4 500 900 Germans and the poor rem
nant of Austro-H ungar.ans, to say
nothing Of adventures on the Danube,
Is an impossible proposition. This does
not take into consideration the effect
of the loss of nearly three million men
on the mind of the German people, but
he must be very bold who doubts such
an effect.
The recruits Of the 1915 class and
the frst levy of uninstructed land
sturm called out in March have been
followed by the 1918 class and further
band of the landsturm. There remains
now only the 1917 and half the 1918
classes, lads Just over seventeen years
proposed, to call men up to fifty years
of age