Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-07
German Onslaught Vastly
Greater Than Allies Had
Thought Possible, Says Of
fiCiaI Review.
DEFECTIVE ARTILLERY
STRENGTH REPAIRED
Opponents of Kaiser Now Fully
Equipped With Men and
Death-dealing Munitions of
All Kinds,

ASSOCIATED Press COrrespOndence.)
London, March 27.--Further in
stalments Of the French official re-
view of the French army, after six
months of war, have been obtained
by the Associated Press. The sixth
instalment deals with material, artil-
lery, transport and supplies, and the
seventh instalment takes up the situ-
alton of the German army and makes
an analysis of the German forces in
the field and available.
Beginning with the field gun, the
famous "seventy-five," the compiler
of the report, after rehearsing the
splendid qualities of this weapon, its
power, its rapidity of action and its
precision, points out that it possesses
a degree of strength and endurance
which make an implement of war of
the first order.
French Artillery Superior.
1T may be stated without hesita-
ton says the review, that our
seventy-fivei guns are in as perfect
condition today as they were on the
first day Of the war, although the
use of them has exceeded all calcula-
tions. The consumption of projectiles
for moment an ammunition crisis.
which, however, was completely over
come several weeks ago.
"The methodical and complete eX
ploitation of all the resources of the
country" continues the review. COR
ganized since the beginning of the
war, has enabled us to accumulate a
considerable stock of fresh munitions
and an increasing rate of production
is heneeforth assured. We are thus
sure of being able to provide without
particular effort for all the needs of
the campaign, present and future,
however long the war may last and
II is this certainty which has enabled
US to supply projectiles to several Of
the allied armies, among others, to
the Serbian and Belgian armies.
From the statements of German pris-
oners, we have learned that the ef
fectiveness of our new projectiles is
superior to that of the old ones.
Inferior at Beginning.
Our heavy artillery was in pro-
cess of reorganization when the war
broke out, with the result that we
We're indisputably in position Of in
feriority in respect of this arm during
the first battles. But today the roles
have been changed and our adverse
fies themselves acknowledge the su
periorty Of our heavy artillery.
The change has been brought
about in various ways, partly by the
intense activity of the cannon foun-
DRIES, in now production partly by
the employment ut the front of the
enormous reserves of artillery pre-
served In the fortresses. The very
large number of heavy guns at the
front reports only part OF the total
number available for use. There is
an abundant stock of proJectiles Tor
the heavy artillery, which, as in the
case Of field gun ammunition, is daily
growing of more importance. The
same is true of the reserves of pow
der and other explosives and of all
materials needed for the manufacture
Of shells.
with regard to small arms. hand
grenades. bombs and all the devices
Tor life-taking, which the trench war
iare at short distance has brought
into use the position of the French
troops is in every way favorable"
Numerous Machine Guns.
There follows a passage on the de-
Neiopment of the machine gun in TINS
Kind Of warfare.
owing to the extended use of this
weapon the number of them supplied
TO the varied units has been appreci-
ABLY increased" says the review. mot
ohly is each unit in possession OF IT'S
Iull regulation complement of ma
chine guns, but the number of these
guns attached to each unit has been
increased since February /, by one
third"
The report next passes to the trans
port service which it says has worked
with remarkable precision since the
beginning of the war. This section OF
ihe review closes by referring to food
supplies for the army which are de-
scrlbed as abundant.
IN the seventh section, the official
review turns to a discussion of the
situation of the German army. Its
nrst chapter headed, "The German
Effort opens with statement as to
lhe German forces at the commence
ment of the campaign. The writer
says:
German Onslaught Terrific.
The military effort of Germany at
the outset of the campaign exceeded
All anticipations. Her design was to
crush the French army in a few
weeks under tremendous mass or
troops. Nothing was neglected 10
prlng that mass together.
The number of German army
corps in time Of peace is twenty-five.
When war began the German general
stan put in the field on the two the
afsrs os ions: First AS fight
Ne. reserve, ersatz or
fy-one army corps.
ps to guard communi-