The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-04-12
KA|SER'S ARMY
SUFFERS Loss
GERMAN CASUALTIES IN BAT.
TIE OF VERDUN ARE 100000,
SAYS PARIS. ~.


Paris, April T. The German
losses before Verdun up to the pres
ent have reached total of 100000
men, one of the greatest battle losses
in the whole range of warfare, ac-
cording to semi-official estimates
made public here today y-"the result
of careful inquiry made in the high
est quarters in which, the figures have
been vigorously checked and veri-
fled.
documentary and verbal testi-
mony gathered and authenticated
permit the giving of precise details
concerning the losses suffered by the
Germans and by US on the Verdun
'front.'" says the semi-official commu-
nication given to The Associated
Press. "During the period from Feb
ruary 81, when the battle began, to
April 1, it is known that two army
corps, namely the third and 18th
have been withdrawn from the front
having lost in the first attacks at
least one-third of their force. They
have reappeared since and have again
suffered like losses. ..7 ..a"
"The German reinforcements are
practically used up as fast as they
are put in line. The total electives
of the 18th corps have in this way
lost II, 900 men and the third corps
has lost $4,000 men.
Concerning the 121st division
which took possession of North Vaux
about March IL, we have precise in
fromation. More than one-half OF
the seventh regiment. of its reserves
was put out of action by our machine
guns in the Intellectual attack against
the slopes of the fort, The Goth reg
>iment met similar losses, Of which the
total reached 60 per cent of the reg
iment's electives. -a,, ~ ~
/ "The 18th German infantry had al
ready suffered similar losses in. at
tacking the village Of. Vaux- March
g.. Its 18th company was wiped out.
In entering the village houses. its
first battalion was reduced 90 per
cent. Il .l.f.. = 49,
aThree regiments Of the 11th Bav-
arian division which led the attack
on the Malaneourt and the AYoeeurt
woods on March 20 and o.. were
each reduced by one-haf. The same
is true of the losses Of the fourth
regiment of the, second division OF
land when engaged under similar
conditions. j.. ...,. .,.. 3.
"lhe foregoing are only losses dur
ing actual attack and do not include
the losses of regiments in the
trenches or in reserve under the fire
of our cannon. ,-. ........:. w..
Regiment Surprised.
"The 37th regiment of infantry
which was surprised by our fire while
on the march: to the trenches lost
about 500 men, and from this fact
was so reduced that it could not, on
March 10, take part in the attack on
the village of Vaux, as was ordered,
in the place of the 10Th regiment,
which had been decimated by our
machine guns.
Summarizing, during the 40 days
from February 21 to April 1, the
Germans had on the Verdun front
from Avocourt to Eparges exactly
239 battalions of infantry, represent
ing a minimum of LOTS companies
each, which gives an aggregate OF
LA companies fully reinforced, the
companies varying from 260 to 280
men. The assaulting army, therefore
represented at least 295, 900 infantry
alone.
"Since February 21, the reinforce
ments have been frequent and heavy,
at least 80 battalions have been sent
to the rear to be reconstructed. 9th
ers have received their reinforce
ments in the field. It is therefore,
nearly 45O,O00 infantry which have
appeared upon the firing line, and
this estimate is even under the mark.
Prisoners' Statements.
declarations gathered from pris-
oners and our own observations, lead
lis to estimate at least one-third OF
the total engaged as the minimum
losses of the German infantry up to
April l. 1t is therefore, 10000 men
who have fallen solely upon the first
battle line.
"But the German losses do not
stop there. In modern battle, long
range guns reach behind the tirst
line, striking lines of communication
and the quarters of troops. AS the
range of the artillery lengthens, the
zone of destruction behind the battle
line increases proportionately. The
German artillery, literally piled up
in the woods, suffered losses COM
parable with those of the infantry.
Finally, our heavy artillery reached
supply camps and innumerable con-
voys in the rear. -
"We arrive thus, keeping within
a most moderate estimate, at up
ward of 100000 men as the figures
of our enemy's losses before Ver-
dun"