Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-19
Wounded British Officers Say
Allied Losses DO Not Seem
III ,.' Large at Front -

LONDON, England. ITO the civilian
who notes the figures in the casualty
lists issued every "a hours and sees
fresh conveys Ut wounded arriving
daily at the big London railway sta
tons, it seems that England is paying
a terrible and ghastly price for what
ever she is gaining by the, big push. +"
On that point the opinions OF the
fighting men themselves are of inter
est, especially of leaders who are hab-
ituated to a somewhat larger purYieY
than is possible IN the ranks. Chance
afforded a London reporter an oppor-
tunity to obtain the views of two such
on the question of casualties. 1t was
when hospital ship laden with
wounded reached the landing stage at
Southampton and he was permitted to
go aboard. +. Il.
What do you think of the British
casualties ?" he asked the wounded
second-in-command Of battalion
which played its part at Fricourt, Mon
tauban, and Razentin. He was sitting
with another officer. the adjutapt Of a
battalion which fought its way
through La Boiselle to CONTAMINATION.
Both were walking cases." one with
two machine gun bullets in shoulder
and arm, the other with bomb splint-
ers in his left side. One had the ex-
perience of Locs for standard of
comparison; the other, the adjutAnt,
has been at the front since the early
days Of 1915. ..-.-..... -" -. m.
well, there's good many of them,
of course. Seeing the whole lot in a
narrow funnel, as you do here, 1t must
seem tremendous. There are a good
many, of course. You cannot move
hand or feot ON the western front
without casualties. But I'm bound to
say it wasn't the number but the few
ness of them that impressed me out
there, mean, of course, for the fire
we have had to face. What do. you
Think" ....-...- ..
He turned to the adjutant.
Il think the proportion of casual
ties is pretty much the same as it has
been in all offensiyes on this front;
but the balance will prove totally diff
ferent This war is just buying and
selling; $4,000 pounds is lump of
money to spend; but in business peo-
pie do not worry about the laying out
of $4,000 If they see good and safe
return for it. 1t is always a good in
-vestmeRt If you ran buy 100000 for it.
is it not?" 49,"
The major Of the other battalion
nodded and said: Perhaps you have
heard of those documents, or some Of
them, found On different prisoners,
sent by German COMPANIES in the line
to their different headquarters in rear,
begging TOR reiAforcements; company
reduced to nine men and one officer;
battalion reduced to 90 men and three
officers and that sort of thing. That is
worth paying for,s you know, and what
is more, it can't possibly be had with
out paying. The whole thing is very
different from Loos; | know that. We
are getting an infinitely better run for
our money.
We sre gaining in ground; but that
is a small thing to the enormous gain
in man power Ind morale. You take it
from me, our new armies can stand
lot of this; deuced sight more OF 1t
than Germany could possibly stand.
Our chaps are In better heart today
than they have ever been since 1914.
In the early days it was a case OF
pitting flesh and blood against metal
The Germans had an overwhelming
advantage of US at every turn and in
every mortal way, except in the spirit
of the men He never could beat US at
that. But in numbers, in preparation
and above all in guns and munitions, it