New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-05
Fighting Force a Million
Greater Than at Wars
Beginning
Nation Stronger,
Says M. Tardieu
Holds More Lines Than
British and Belgian
Troops

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.-"Severe was
the ordeal; stronger is the national
energy" says VI. Andre Tardieu, High
Commissioner of the French Republic
in the United States, in letter to Sec
retary of War Baker.
Frances strength in men at the close
of the third year of the war is about
100000, a million more than were
in the war zone at the beginning of the
conflict. despite the awful carnage and
destruction of life.
II brought to your knowledge in a
recent talk" says W. Tardieu in his
letter written July 3O "the surprise I
felt in reading so often in American
newspapers some utterly inaccurate in
formation regarding military conditions
in Europe, and especiallyin the French
army
"In connection with our conversation
believe it would be of interest to pre-
sent TO you some figures which, better
than any comments, will expose to you
the reality; these figures will show you
France as she is, vigorous and power
ful. in spite Of three years of suffering
without precedent in history.
Maximum Figures of War
THE strength in men now present
in the zone of the armies alone shows
the maximum figure reached during the
war.
This figure exceeds by over 100000
the number of men actually in the said
zone at the beginning, and one must add
to that figure the men in the zone of
the interior and in the colonies.
"We are cert ain, with the resources
of our metropolitan and colonial depots,
20 be able to maintain that number up
to its present level for long time to
come.
"Our strength in men by reason of
better command and of better methods
of instruction has shown since the be-
ginning of the war constantly decreas-
ing defnitive casualties (killed, miss
ing and those taken prisoners).
"The following figures substantiate
this:
BATTLES Of Charleroi and Marne, 5.4l
per cent casualties lin proportion to
the total modified strength).
First six months Of 1915, 2.39 per
cent of mobilized strength.
Second six months of 1915, 1853 per
cent of modified strength.
First six months of 1916, l.47 per
cent of modified strength.
Second six months of 1915, l.28 per
cent of modified strength.
"For measuring the offensive and de-
fensive quality of the troops whose
numerical strength | have indicated
above | can do nothing better than TO
quote some more figures.
"The Western front has an exten-
sion of 739 kilometres.
"Twenty-seven kilometers are held
by the Belgians.
zone hundred and thirty-eight kllo-
metres are held by the English.
Line Held by French
Give hundred and seventy-four klo-
metres are held by the French.
"The French army holds more than
two-thirds of the Western front-that
ie 70 saw. Of the front where the enemy
has always directed its chief eNeruons'
"The German divisions in the line on
the Western front we're, in June, lslI
distributed as follows: 49,,
"Forty-two opposite to the English
"Eighty-one opposite to the French.
"a German division holds an average
front of kilometres 700 metres; a
French division an average front OF
: kilometres 500 metres-that IS to say,
one-siXth more.
1--WE were amply furnished with '15s
since the beginning of the war. The
number of these guns was constantly
increased; il is adequate to our needs.
"As for the heavy artillery, we had
in August, 1914, 800 guns grouped IN
regiments. In June, 1917, we had s.
600, mostly modern. During our pres
emit offensives we have on an average
one heavy gun for twenty-six metres.
II we sum up all the trench, field, heavy
artillery. we have one gun for eight
metres in the sector of attack.
"Our output in munitions was ar
ranged in August, 1914, for $4,000 shots
of 1853 day. II is now arranged for
$50. 900 shots of '75's' and 100000 shots
of heavy guns. To be equal to this
enormous production, invaded France
did not hesitate, in the midst of war, to
create new industries and to 5estow on
military industries the best of its pro-
ductive strength
France has expended since the be-
ginning of the war the following sums:
1a14 ..................... sos. .0OO, 900
1915 .................''''. f,o5u'VVV'VUV
1915 ...........-........ .'..'.o,9 o,9-o'VVy'VVV
1917 ..................,.. $3.50, ,iOO,OOO
Total .....s...s ss's. go zee FlO'o-5'fNv''VV
"She received from foreign countries
from August 1, 1914. TO January /, 1917,
$1,000 ,OO0, 900. During the same period
she loaned TO several Allied govern
ments s800,000,000.
Now II is a question of striking the
last blow TO the adversary. You will
help US. But, at the moment when the
American soldiers are in France, il IS
proper to let them know that they will
find to receive them, a country which,
70 day as we'll as during the last three