The Detroit times., 1916-04-05
By J. w. T. MASON,
Noted American Authority
on This War

Wv ffo W
Germany's violent effort 10 cap
ture Verdun, at such huge cost OF
life, means the kaiser is preparing
for the time when his troops will be
compelled to shorten their western
line of defense by evacuating most
OF northern France and Belgium.
The verdup offensive is in reality
defensive campaign
II is an effort to secure vastly
important point of vantage, which
can serve a. Germanys final point
OF retreat, If the war is 10 be fought
to condition of complete exhaus-
ton for one side or the other.
To hold entrenchments under mod
crn conditions OF warfare against
attacks such as can be developed by
fighting machines like the British
and French armies, requires a de
iensive force OF between 1900 and
5000 men per mile.
These ngures are the two ex-
tremes \ fair average OF the mum
ber of men Germany now has along
the western front is 1000 per mile.
In some areas this number is less
and at other points II is more. but.
IN all probability. the average is ap-
proximately 1000 per mile.
The curving western front from
Ostend to Verdun measures about
250 miles. To hold this section of
the western line, Germany must EN-
ploy 100000 men. That is, the con
tinuous minimum must be 000, ,00n
men. The number can never be al
lowed TO fall below that level if the
German defenses are TO be made safe
against attack Casualties must be
Immediately replaced by fresh
troops and, for this reason. the drain
on the Germln manhood must grow
more and more serious as the war
rroce eds.
There -!S~no certain rule for deter
mining the wastage OF men at the
front. but il was recently stated by
the British government that British
units must be completely replaced
every six months. II this holds true
for the Germans as we'll 1000 900
new men must be found each year
10 hold the German lines between
Ostend and Verdun.
The time must inevitably come. as
the war progresses, when IL will no
longer be feasible for the Germans
to supply go huge a number OF their
citizens for the firing line The Al.
lies are largely superior TO the Teu-
tonic powers in population. and II
is simple problem in arithmetic
as TO which side can better afford
the wastage of it's men al the pres
, ent disquieting rate
If the water, therefore. settles
down into test of endurance TO the
very end-that is, if the Allies de
termine 70 risk everything in an eff
fort TO crush Germany-the German
line in the west will have TO be
shortened. by no other means can
Germany retain her ability TO furnish
the number OF men necessary for
proper defensive operations The
250 miles of trenches between Os-
tend and Verdun must be deserted
and new positions. requiring far less
troops to man them must be found
Such line has unquestionably al
ready been planned in advance by
the German general staff II runs
from Antwerp. through brussels.
Namur. Givet, Mezeieres and Sedan
to Nerdun. where IL joins the pres
ent southern German front extend
ing through Lorraine and Alsace
Between Antwerp and verdun the
distance is about 100 miles.
BY moving the battlefront back
10 this position. therefore, the Ger
mans would require only $4,000
men as their defending army. instead
Of the present force OF 100000
But even this number might prove
too many for the Germans to keep
continuously supplying II the war
were 10 go on indefinitely. SO a
third and last line OF defense has
been prepared. whichA runs from the
Dutch frontier. JUST north OF Tiege.
through Liege itself, and then al
most perpendicularly south. TO Yer.
dun.
This line measures ITO miles, and
would require 40 900 men for its