Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-06
LONDON. March G.

LONDOEN, MaTCn v.
1t is known that Germany intended an
attack, but premature spring seemed to
dry the ground sufficiently to accelerate
the plans six weeks. But deserters gave
Information more than usually valuable,
and the French were fully prepared. So
far the Germans have been effectively
checked, with losses hard to exaggerate,
while the French losses are really trihing
I interrogated scores Of prisoners be-
longing to every corps engaged Their ac-
counts agree-everywher the losses be-
yond anything known before Thus the
German Sd and 18th Corps were entirely
used up. The 9TH Reserve lost half and
the 18th three.uuarters of their strength.
The 18th Division and the 9Th Reserve
Corps and Bavarian list Division were
all used up" while the later reinforce
ments suffered equally.
GERMANS LOSE 100000.
The most conservative total estimate of
the losses surpasses one.thlrd of the forces
actually engaged in the front lines or
more than 100000 of Germany's picked
troops
The sudden change in the weather dam
aged the German plans. Never did the
wounded suffer so terribly. Imagine the
French horror when their lookouts, trying
to save the living among the German
masses covering the plateau's slopes,
found all had been frozen stif by Icy
wind.
As 1 approached the battle two things
struck me: First. the huge quantity Of all
kinds of supply wagons; second the ter
rife thunder of the cannonade, far sur
passing anything / had heard In other
battles. l looked across the city, which
the enemy is making a second Ypres, to-
ward Fort Douaumont-that gunless fort.
so magnified by the Germans, whose cap
40 baodctorfarc rI 10
"simple episode Of the give and take Of
war"
Tho day was fine and despite the hor-
rlble carnage, the character of the ground
forces me to describe this as beautiful
battle. Despite the cannonade, birds were
singing and Red Cross ambulances and
motor conveys wound over a picturesque
road. We counted 20 conveys of 100
wagons each, on one road alone 1t is
not only Germans who know how to
utilize the automobile transport.
lunched at the simple headquarters
with General Petain, who drank tea with
his brief meal. He discussed the battle
as though only an interested spectator.
He looks like Lord Roberts, though larger
built. He spoke with great interest of
Australians, Canadians and the growth of
the British army Both he and his staff
were remarkable by their complete lack of
excitement.
At another gathering of officers the talk
touched upon the question whether the
British would attack now to relieve the
Verdun pressure The opinion mostly
was adverse, but the French evidently feel
our army has reached the point Of being
able to bear England's full share in fu-
ture operations. The French officers agree
that Verdun's value was chiefly moral
They were confident the line would hold
even IL the fortress fell.
RECRUITS ARE PUNY.
But If neutrals could see the poor quail
ity of the German soldiers they would be
more impressed than by the fall of Vey-
dun. What a pity your Highlanders
can't meet them In fair fight; it would end
the war in month";" said French cap
tain as we passed a group of wretched
puny prisoners
Germany must be near the end of her
tether when five feet, four-inch, narrow
chested youths are members of an elite
corps like the Third or Fifth Berlin
army corps.
Some young prisoners had had only ten
weeks training before going to the front.
Some who came from Flanders after a
short rest were "old. we send you
against the kindly French instead of the
frlghtful English" All were dazed. and
Just able to rejoice that they escaped
alive. All agreed that no enthusiasm was
left in the Germany army, and that let
ters from home were invariably gloomy
Their boots were the only good thing about
them. and show the need of further
tightening the blockade.
The real lesson of the Verdun battle
is that the French, with comparatively
small losses in men and ground, repused
forces originally three to one stronger.
Here is the disposition of the German
armies on February 2l, when the battle
began: on their extreme right was the
9TH Reserve Corps consisting of the I'd
Landwehr and the 11th and 18th Reserve
Divisions in the order named During the
battle the 11th was relieved by the 22d
Reserve,
STRONG AT CENTRE.
Next facing the French northeast of
Verdun came the 14th Reserve Division,
with the 7th Reserve Corps and the 11th
Bavarian Reserve Division as supports.
These troops formed the right of the
enemy's central force. Next came the
18th Corps, the Sd and 18th Corps and
the Bavarian LIST Division in order named.
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