The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-01

with allowance for the wounded who
recover and return, has run W
three and four hundred thousand on
either side.
This wastage has seriously affected
the German predominance over the
western fraction OF the allied force.
II has been the lot Of Germany to
| maintain the offensive increasingly. The
offensive Is costly in men. Eight In
all OF the German offensives thus far
! carried out have failed. Failure is ex-
| ceedingly costly In men. In the west.
moreover. the German arms suffer
through the superiority of the French
artillery. 1t 10 natural therefore to con-
clude that the Germans have lost more
heavily than their opponents here In
killed and wounded. Austria for her
part has suffered three military dis
asters, those Of Lemberg. OF the Ser
ban campaign and OF Przemysl. In ad-
dition to the killed and wounded she
has lost whole armies OF prisoners.
The prospective full fighting strength
Of Germany and Austria. leaving out
losses. was about 100000 men. two
thirds OF them Germans. Permanent
loss amounting to 1900. 900 men for the
| Germans and half as much for their
! ally reduces the actual full fighting force
to 1900, 900 men. In the west the French
forces have been reduced from an availa-
BILE total of some 1000. 900 men to an
actual total Of perhaps 100000. but
| the British total has not yet been placed
in the field. The west now therefore
opposes the Teutons with some 3.60o.-
900 men actually available for use in
battle, British and Belgians included.
! The proportion is three to four. where
but for wars losses II would be scarcely
two or three. Here. moreover. enters a
new factor in the form OF 900. 900 ltal-
ian troops on the allied side. The fresh
accession to the alliance brings num-
bers In the west within - Jew hundred
7 thousand of the total Teutonic force re-
! naming. The eventual addition OF sew
eral hundred thousand British recruits
will later give the Allies an actual pre-
1 ponderance on the western front over the
entire Teutonic force, with isolated Rus
STA left out OF the reckoning. Thus as
the year ends does the great Teutonic
advantage of superiority OF any given
front waste away. 1t is terrible but true
that the sheer bioodshed of the past
months has done more han aught else
to mature the time OF the wars de-
cision.
To go back to the strange comparison
Of to-day with a year ago to-day, one OF
the unexpected developments Is the APP
parent lethargy OF the combatants In the
/ WtSls L ~ hisN 'N
the fervor and superb passion OF the call
to arms. In reality IL bellies nothing. The
still caution that almost resembles slum-
Der is AS much a part OF military need
for the opponents now as was the onrush
then. The Allies In the west will spend
no great force on a major attack where
they have seen two attacks fail for any
one success. and where they are never
theless certain OF gaining by waiting the
necessary superiority OF numbers for
| victory in the end. They hde their time
as they awe lore for many months
seeking only such minor and local sue
| cesses as may open the breach. at Sou
chez or at Apremont. for an eventual
! attack upon the Teuton!c lines. On the
Italian front the Austrian defence gives
signs even now Of lacking the numbers
for a bare resistance against the cautious
Italian pressure.
When Germany a year ago let looss
her troops on Belgium, protected oni,
BY a nations broker word. the Teuton:
paid for their act by the loss OF the sea
and by the active hostility OF Britain
When Germany attempted TO crust
France out OF hand she met with regi
ments which proved, despite handicaps
equal TO her own. When she next des
perately sought 10 break down her en-
emies on one side, then on the other. sh'
displayed the fury and endurance OF 4
monster which has thrust Itself into {
net. With every struggle Germany y
now losing strength and using up mate
! rial no longer easy 10 replenish. A yea
d. ago II was: How long can France hol'
OUT Now IL is How long can Ger
I many hold OUT