Evening journal., 1917-10-26
By HENRY WOOD.

United Press STAFF Correspondent. 2
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES
AFIELD, Oct. 5.-tBy MaiD.-By an
Intensity OF mobilization that has
drained Germany dry OF every man
capable Of military service, the Ger
man fighting divisions on the French
and Russian fronts have been prac-
tically doubled since August 4. 1919.
Despite this gigantic effort, France,
England and Russia, the three original
Allies, have in every way kept pace.
with the result that at the spresent
time they still have the numerical SUI
periority in fighting forces. In addi-
tion, II has been definitely established
that the military Of the Allied armies,
as constituted at the present time, is
constantly on the increase, while that
of the German army Is unmlstakably
on the decline.
Since the beginning OF the war the
new Allies that have joined France,
England and Russia have far exceeded
in the re-enforcements Of troops which
they have added 20 the Allied cause,
those brought TO Germany by the al
lies won over TO her side.
On August 4, 1914, when Germany
had modified to the extent she deemed
necessary to win the war. she threw
onto the French and Russian fronts,
1913 lighting divisions constituted on a
basis Of four regiments to the division.
BY first crushing France with the bulk
Of these and then throwing them TO
the Russian front by means Of her
system Of strategic railways. she
counted on a quick and complete vic
tory.
BY November Of i9ii, when the bat
Tie OF the User was being fought, Ger
many had found it necessary TO in
crease her fighting divisions on the
Two fronts 20 i37.
In September Of 1918, towards the
close OF the Russian campaign. the
German divisions on the two fronts
had been increased 20 40. BY this time
Germany began to feel the pressure on
her for new divisions, and 20 permit
OF this she began the gradual trans
formation Of her divisions 20 a basis
OF three regiments each instead OF
four. The extra regiment thus saved
went TO constitute a new division.
Towards the middle Of the attack or
Verdun, about June, 1916, all OF th'
German divisions had been reduced q
the basis Of three regiments only. B!
this change, and by a constant fine
cOmbing Of the entire Empire foi
available men, Germany was able Il
augment her divisions on the eastern
and western lighting fronts 20 i73.
The fall and winter Of 1916 witnessed
Hindenburg's colossal effort at mobl
llzatlon and the creation OF new diyi
sions His plans included the incor
pOration OF the inhabitants OF Serbia
Poland and other conquered districts
As early as December Of 1916, his ef
forts had permitted an increase in th
fighting divisions Of the two fronts {
2Os.
BY July, 1917, at the end Of III
French and English spring offensive
Hlndenburg had attained 23i divisions
On September 1, at the time German
undertook her counter-offenslve on On
Russian front, maximum Of 239 flghi
ing divisions had been thrown ont
the two fronts by the Germans.
Against the 1913 fighting division
which Germany threw ~ the Frenc
and Russian fronts with the beginnir
Of hostilities she now has there Q
divisions. Owing TO the fact that thei
latter are exclusively on a basis
three regiments to a division instei
OF four as at the beginning, the ngurN
are a trine deceptive.
A more accurate idea can be had
reckoning in battalions as battalion
have approximately 1000 men, a
though 10 Is definitely known IN
hundreds OF the German battalions al
now far below this number. On Oh