New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-14
GERMANS CLAIM
VAST RESERVES
Point to Balkans as Proof
of abundant Troops and
High Morale"

Berlin, Oct. 10 (by wireless 70 Say
vile. N. YO.-In answer to the view
Of Generals Joffre and Haig as to thu
results Of the Anglo-FreEch offensive
on the Somme, and in reviewing the sit
uation on other fronts. We military
critic of the semi-offlcisl Oversee
News Agency writes:
"Just as General Joff.e did, Genera
Haig now feels obliged 70 strike !
balance of the Somme battle. Ills re-
view Of the result of the battle, which
already has ragged more than three
months, was published few days ago
In it the British commander takes .
view curiously opposite to that taken
by the French commander, who consid'
ers the gain of terrain as the mair
result
Claim Ample Reserves
1.-THE British general says: The un'
interrupted systematic pressure of the
Entente armies must finally exhaust
the morale and material rces of the
Central Powers, especially as to the
existing reserves of war material
This so-called strategy Of wearing
out their opponents. through which 9
great decision Of the war was expect
ed. however, has accomplished very
little, as proved by the great sue
cesses gained by the Central Powers
who still have such forces at their dis
posal that they are able to carry on
gigantic ofensives. Thus, it is evi
dent their reserves cannot lie exhaust
ed, but rather there must still exist .
considerable abundance o. forces.
"The glorious victories by thes
troops in the Balkans and in Transyl-
wanna, after the heavy lgnting on the
Somme and in Galicia, further proves
that their morale cannot have been
lowered by systematic pressure but
rather must have been uplitted
THAT German troops cannot take the
offensive in all war theatres simultane-
ously must be self-evident TO every one
who knows the extension of the fronts
on which Germany fights to-day. While
the English front is only 1876 kilometres
long and the French $50 kilometres,
Germany fights on a front LOO kilo-
metres in length.
Hold Offensive In, Balkans
"But in the Balkan war theatre,
where, according to the unanimous dec
laration of the Entente, the decision
must be reached, the Central Powers
have VIGOROUSLY gained the initiative.
There they dictate the law OF action to
their enemies. The plan of the Entente
in the Balkans failed completely, in
spite Of Rumanias entrance into the
war.
"Rumania, which was expected to
bring a decision for the Entente, is
rather a brake on their progress and OF
no advantage, especially since the Rus
sian armies at present, by reason OF
the complete failure Of their offensive
in Galicia, in which they suffered enor-
nous losses, are debilitated to such a
degree that they are obliged for the
time being to leave Rumania 10 her
fate.
"The Entente repeats from time to
time the asseveration that Germany rs
exhausted, but this claim is merely
empty words and advertising in order
to impress neutrals and 20 stimulate
their own nations and armies.
"The victorious defence in the east
and west and the energetic offensive of
the Central Powers in Pennsylvania and
the Balkans prove better than words
the fact that the forces and military
superiority of the Central Powers are
mistaken.
Attackers VIII Wear Out
England hoped to wear out the Ger
man forces by the present offensive
on the Somme, but this can now be
considered failure. IL is the agrees
sor who will be worn out more than
the defender. The sanguinary figures
published recently by The London
Daily Mall speak a language that
ought to be grave and impressive for
Great Britain.
Besides. these figures do not con-
tain all the extraordinarily heavy
losses suffered during the last three
weeks by the British and French in
a most terrific battle on the Somne.
The wearing out of regiments IS a
source Of serious care, not only for
France, which is bled to death already
but also for England, which until now
has boosted Of it's inexhaustible re-
serves. The Times raises a warning
voice,
"How little the Entente has sue