New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-09
French Losses
Mr.. Pitney Replies to the O,...
Of Mr.. Bacon

- 81, " '''uAye lam. 4.
The Tribune has questioned tn, v.,;."s
some Of my statements concernip, ~
rifce France has made in this war "
The figures Zone in six for IA.
Of the population Of France t.k.r =
armies were given in the Chamber mn y
ties in Paris early in 1915. They w.. ~ !
the figures for more than a year a.. W.
l have no means Of knowing N.
of men Germany, exclusive Of Au,,s.
her other allies, has put in her AM q
the number, 100000, used BY M
is the number the military expert, ~, NV
rope estimated as available in Cerr.S
fore the war. 1t was estimated tb.,
her classes Of trained men Germsnv =
pressure, could Immediately pu. an :,
force of 100000 in the field and -.
total force available would be Owe, ps
600 and less than 100000
Having put one in six of her pouul,...
the armies by the beginning Of 1914
not think it surprising that the 1914 -.
France should produce less than 92SM
How Many Killed,
The figures Of French killed va.
me BY an officer of the General Stat
whose duties related TO that subi,. Il
think Mr.. Bacon will agree with ma A.. 4
would be highly improper for m. to A..
the source Of the information NOR, .l,,.'
As for the correctness of the figures (, /.
not feel myself competent to Que,ts, -
accuracy of General staff officer VIA -
the matter under his jurisdiction. II
The subject came up while We wei, 4,
cussing the necessity for sending Ar,-.,
troops to France Immediately. | n,rt.s
figures knew of the losses in killed NJ
Gus times, and asked, referring to Ii, /,
figures | had used:
What are the killed now?"
"More than double" he replied, and y.
ing up a paper from his desk, added =.
studying the paper, approximately two 1.
ions"
Mr.. Bacon's estimate OF the nunbe
men on the French front is too los.
places it at 100000. There are ,r,,
more than 100000. The necessities an !,
more than 100000.
In September, 1916, General Gousui =,
in command OF the Champagne wctc,
front of approximately forty miles, Tia
had been no active offensive Operation,
a large scale on that front for sem
months, none were expected at that Il,
and, in fact, there were none for wn
months more. To hold that very ,rrsd
section of the front General Gourssd M
100000 men.
This is an average Of 10000 to The al
1t includes, of course, the army seric. d
we'll as the men in the trenches, bu. is
are all men in the active armies, and al
be all included in estimating the nunbs
the army and the number of men ragz|
per mile of front.
The number of 10000 per mil. is 81
average figure. The precise number '.
differ in different localities, owing to ~
special conditions obtaining, but the U.lg
is fair And this makes it necemav n
France 70 have about 100000 m.a e Ia
front, whereas she has little nor ID
100000. or approximately 100000 s..
Sarrail is credited by Mr.. Bacon wit ".
ing 10000 French troops under bis n-'
mand. The number is more than douba 10
figure.
Why France Needs Our Aid
Mr.. Bacon speaks of the free active
serves and estimates them at 100000 Z
estimate is low. But this is precisely VIZ
the trouble comes in. By using her d
active reserves and the 1918 class Fn1|
could bring her men on the front % n
required number. But 20 create free AN
reserve for a striking force she is oelaI
to withdraw men from the front hti.|
man power has suffered 20 such an uial
that either her front or her reserves n
striking force, must suffer.
This is the point | am seeking to sl|
out-the necessity for America to MAKE
Immediately the losses suffered by Fn'|
Ny articles have been written for the .
pose Of placing the facts before the An''
can people in the hope that they VoaH \
aroused to the necessities Of the s!lrs'
| am speaking of the whole people, the ga
body OF our population, not Of con'i'|
lively few men, who, like Mr. Bacon, % p
preciate.
When l returned TO this country ,a'
some recruiting speeches. They strua u
as infantile. They were the hooraa H-
stump speakers in country election ds19
in the campaigns Of the seventies sna .,
ties. The bloody shirt and "0!a e''I
were waved and there was lit's ~
clapping, and it was sll over.
Everywhere I went WAS appalled, VIZ ,
evidences Of business as usual HhT
fectly plain that this country is not u"
It is playing around the edge Of val >
it will not be at war until the people
war-not a few people like Mr.. Bse'' "
the mass of the people. 4. Al
Having listened TO the hoorsh 'peee'"
did not seem TO me that that was !"
to get the American people 70 90 :,
But II did seem TO me that II they hss
of the facts to show them the prs'sns
cessities of the situation they would W."
and make war.
That is the reason Rave writer
articles. They have no though, o.
contentious or argumentstiye. Ny @r
that facts will arouse the American =
as a people, and not as few isoswr,
stances FRED B. PITNEl
New York, July 6, 1917.
What the Negro Really VANS