Evening star., 1917-10-01
CALLS GERMANY'S DEFENSIVE
.. SHAKEN, BUT STILL POWERFUL
War Departments Official Communique
Speaks of Superiority of British
Forces Over Enemy.

| Shaken, but still powerful. Is the es-
| innate of Germany's defensive strength
on the western front given in this
weeks official communique issued by
the War Department.
The superiority of the British over
their enemies, the communique says
has been proved conclusively by the
last weeks fighting: while it has DEM
onstrated that the fighting stamina OF
the German is deteriorating.
OF the activities of the American
force in Europe the communiqae says
absolutely nothing. OF the forces al
home, 1t reports mobilization Of the
National Guard and the National Army
proceeding satisfactorily.
The analysis OF the situation on the
west front, which the communique says
| remains the principal battle front of the
war, follows:
Situation on West Front.
..The battle of Menin road (Ypres sali-
ent), which promises to be one Of the
great battles of the war, is following its
nornnai course. Last week we recorded
the gains Of the British in this sector.
This week we must note the desperate
attempts made by the Germans to retake
the lost positions
"Beginning Sunday last, the constantly
increasing violence of the counter attacks
reached a elimination on the 21th instant,
when seven powerful onslaughts by the
picked storm battalions of the enemy
endeayored vainly to regain the lost OBJ
iectivea The village of Zonnebeke, the
center of the conflict, is now firmly held
by the British.
enemy in this sector are not actuated
merely by the desire to regain lost
terrain of little more than tactical
value, nor must their persistent at
tacks be considered merely the normal
reaction of a modern field engagement.
in which counter attack invariably fol-
lows upon attack. but rather 1t is to
be noted that the enemy realizes fully
the immense strategic Importance of
the British thrust along the Menln
road.
"This new British advance in the
Ypres salient now definitely threatens
the enemy's line of communications to
railway. which in large measure
feeds the German naval bases at Os-
tende and Zeebrugge. the latter the
home port of the German high seas
submarine fiotillas. now comes within
range of fire of British guns.
The superiority of the British over
their enemies was conclusively proved
| during the engagements of the past
week The battle OF Men1n road, fur-
thermore. shows that the fighting
stamina of the Germans is deteriorat-
ing. not that the enemy did not display
great skill and dogged determination in
his repeated counter attacks"
Fighting on French Front.
OF the fighting on the French front
the Communique says:
The outstanding feature of the re-
cent engagements is the wastage of the
man power of the enemy If we com
pare the combat front of Ferdun in
| 1916, held by twelve German divisions.
with the combat front along the Aisne
in 1917, held by fourteen divisions. both
Of practically the same length. it is
found that during the same period of
time. from May to September. 1915 and
1917. respectively. the enemy engaged
along the Verdun front twenty five
new divisions last year; along the
Aisne, thrty-fve new divisions this
year.
so great has the wastage of enemy
forces become. owing to the improved
mechanical means of the allies and the
perfection of their methods of combat,
that the Germans are obliged to main :
tain in reserve as minimum guaran-
tee for the safety of their battle line
in the west at least forty divisions.
The western front thus remains the
principal battle front of the war. 1t is
still strongly held by the enemy. and
his defensive strength, while shaken.
remains powerful.
The situation on the other fronts is