The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-02
GERMAN LOSSES AT
LOOS 80 PER CENT.
Sir John French Says Seven
BattaliOns Suffered
Heavy Casualties.
DEFENDS USE OF GAS
Special Gable Despdteh to The Sun.

ONCE press bureau Issued yesterday Q
long despatch from Sir John French,
dated October Is. detailing the opera
ions from June . to October 8. The
report includes a description OF tho
Allies joint attack which began on Sep
tember 25 and covers the Loos battle
and the success at Huiluch and at the
redoubt on Hill 20.
In a despatch received last night Sir
John French says:
Returns show that seven German
battalions lost so per cent. Of their men
in the lighting at Loos."
Sir John French expresses his regret
at the heavy casualties. but says that,
in view Of the great strength Of the
position and the stubborn defence Of
the enemy and the powerful artillery
with which he was supported these cas-.
ualties were not excessive. The pro-
portion OF slightly wounded Ii relatively
very large.
1.-THE army has received strong re-
endorsements since my last despatch"
Sir John French writes. Numerous
British batteries Of heavy gum, and
howitxers have given added sirens tn to
the heavy artillery. The enemy may
have hoped that II woul be impossible
for us to build up an efficient art. lery
TO provide for the very large exI an
sion OF the army, but IL he en,ertai ned
such hopes he now has good reason TO
know they were unJustifed by the le-
suits attained"
Owing to the repeated use by ths
enemy OF asphyxiating gases Sir JOIN,
French states he was compelled to re-
sort to similar methods. For the first
time a detachment o. part In these
operations on September Is.
although the enemy was known to
be prepared for our reprisals." con.in-
ues Sir John. "our gas attack met with
marked success. II produced a demor-
alizing effect on the opposing units. The
men who undertook the work showed
conspicuous gallantry and coolness. I
feel confident OF their ability to more
than hold their " should the enemy
again resort TO this method OF war
fare"
In conclusion Sir John French pays
q high tribute 10 the new armies.
The Daily Mail. commenting editor'ally
on the report OF Sir John French. says.
"a stage in the war has been reached
where new methods are required. We
read of desperate assaults and magn!n-
cent heroism. but without any very de-
cisive result. There is no military genius
on either side capable OF dominating the
confronting situations.
our armies In Flanders have been
biting "A file and the Germans have been
hitting the opposite edge Of the sam"
file. The difference Is that hey acted
promptly upon the discovery OF this fact.
whereas We have gone on trying the oiu,
unsuccessful plans. The APP
pear to have come to the conclusion
an .mpasse exists. Each side, hey be
lieve. holds the other so firmly that
neither can break through
The editorial contends that a similar
situation exists as regards the rival
fleets on the lta!o-Austr!an front. and
since September. on the Russian front.
and adds
only on the southeast was there any
thing like "A breach in the wall round
Germany, and the German General STAFF,
viewing the strategic situation as n
whole. turned quickly In the direction
where the opening remained. The tighter
the blockade was drawn about three
quarters OF the circle the more urgent
was their need Ia use the one opening
ltf, and 10 Obtain cotton, q !, copper,
rubber and all the uecessaries Of which
tho .A44lCS are denTlNlng tNefn from ASIA
by moving in this direction they have
been able to Join hands with the Bull
guriaus and now hope TO seize the rail-
way to corstantinople and join hands
with NE Turks.
After their stroke In the Balkans
was delivered Great Britain was ron-
fron,ed with the exceedingly difficult
problem OF deciding how and where a
reply stroke should be struck But
allowing for the difficulty OF the problem.
was a month required for a dsc.s.on'
Sir Edward Grey revealed Bulgaria.
perhdy on October I, yet the visit OF
Gen. Joffre TO London on October 20 was
required 10 assist the Government In
making UP their mind.
That the Germans have been able -
accomplish all this Is due TO the :act
that they have a central strategic brain
II the Allies had such a central thinking
depart1 ent-a staff which could study
the whole strategic situat!on-our prob
lens would be greatly simplliied. decl-
sions would he made more rapidly and
instead OF being taken by surprise we
might spring surprises on the enemy"
The DAILY Mall suggests that the In
telligen, employment OF aircraft on a
very large scale might prove the rue
way out OF the Allies difficulties. but
questions whether aircraft are being de-
yeloped in England on the necessary
scale. The newspaper maintains that
IA minister OF air service. VINO is an
expert and not u politician, is needle