New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-08
SAY KAISER LOST
2OO,OOOATYERDUN
French Semi-OfhCial Esti-
mates Put Casualties
at 80 Per Cent.

Paris. April :. The German losses
before Nerdun Up 20 the present time
have reached the huge total Of 100000
men. one Of the greatest battle losses
in the whole range Of warfare, accord
ing to estimates made public here to-
day from d semi official source, "the
result Of careful inquiry made IN the
highest quarters, in which the figures
have been vigorously checked ana
verified"
documentary and verbal testimony
gathered and authenticated permit the
giving Of precise details concerning
the losses suffered 10y the Germans and
by US on the Verdun front" says the
semi-oFic.al communication given 20
The Associated Press. During the
period from February 81, when the
battle began, 20 April l, it Is known
that two army corps, namely, the
Third and the Eighteenth, have been
withdrawn from the front. having lost
I'M the first attacks at least one-third
of their force They have reappeared
since and have again suffered IKE
losses.
The German reinforcements ara
practically used up a. fast as they are
nut in line. The total electives OF the
Eighteenth Corps have 10 this way los'
1900 men. The Third Corps mas lost
-2.OOO men.
Machine Guns Effective.
"co,co,rir,- +he f21st Division. which
took possession Of North NauX about
March To-. we have precise information
More than one-half Of the 7th Regi-
ment Of Its reserves was put out oil
action bv our machine guns IN tho
Intellectual attack against the slopes OF
.he fort. The 60th Regiment met SINH
lar losses. Of which the total reached
so per cent of the regiments electives.
THE 10Th German infantry had al
ready suffered similar losses I'D az
-acking the village Of NauX on March ..
III. 18Th Company was surprised ana
annfhil.ted IN entering the village
houses its first battalion was reduced
so per cent. Three regiments OF the
nth Bavarian Division. which led the
attack on the MalancOur' and Avocourt
Woods on March 30 and -. were each
reduced by oue-haf Their losses va
ried between 80 and so per cent. The
same il true Of the losses Of the an
REGIMENT OF the I'd Division o. Land
weh- engaged under similar conditions.
The foregoing are only losses dur
Ing actual attack and 90 not include
the losses OF regiments 100 the trtnchr'
or IN reserve under the ire oi our
cannon. They are solely the current
actual losses We know that certain
German units have had ,ery hign cur
rent losses. thar .s 90 say, losses from
artillery ire. when 70 action o. the
infantry was in progress. We cite
for instance. the 31th Regiment OF IN
fantry. which was surprised by our
fire. while on the march 10 the
trenches. IL lost about 800 men, ana
from this fact was so reduced that j,
could not. on March 10. take part IN
the attack on the village OF NauX. as
was ordered. IN place Of the 18th kegi-
ment. which had been decimated by
our machne-g guns.
Summarizing. during the forty day.
from February u 20 April /, the Ger
mans had on the Ncrdun front from
Ayocourt 20 Eparges exactly -o5
battalions Of infantry. representing d
minimum Of l015 companies OF M
fautry besides twenty-three battalionS
of engineers of three companies each
which give an aggregate OF l,Iii com
panies fully reinforced, the companies
VARYING from 26O 90 $50 men. ne
assault.ng army therefore represented
al least $4,000 infantry alone.
Estimate Is a Minimum.
"Since February y the reinforce
r,euts have been frequent and heavy.
Al least eighty battalons have been
sent 10 the rear 10 be reconstructed.
Others have received their reinforce
ments on the field. Il Is. therefore,
nearly $50 200 infantry which have @p-
peared upon the firing iine' and tnIs
estimate Is even under the marx.
"Declarations gathered from prison
ers ana our own observations lead w.
10 estimate a. least one-thlrd of the
total force engaged as the minimum
losses Of the German infantry up 20
April /. Il is. therefore. 100000 men
who have fallen solely upon the nrst
battle line.
But the German losses do not stop
there In a modern battle long-range
guns reach far behind the first line,
striking lines OF Communication and
the quarters % troops. As the range
OF the artillery lengthens the zone OF
destruction behind the battle line in
creases proportionately The German
artillery, literally piled Up in the
woods. suffered losses comparable with
those 81 the iafantry. Finally, our
heavy artillery reached supply camps
and nnumerable conveys IN the rear.
We arrive thus. keeping within a
most moderate estimate, az upward Of
POO. 600 men as the figures of our enc
my's losses before Nerdun.'
1vnvv ANN yvNYrn