The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-12-19
FLUx AND REFLUx
Of GERMAN ARMY
English Writer Shows How
Forces Were Swung to
and Fro.
WEST TOTAL NEAR MAxIMUM
On Sept. I the Fighting Troops There
He Figures, Reached 1859 Batai-
ions-Roumania's Entry
Causes Swift Change.

With the French Armies.-The fiux
and reiux Of the German forces on the
western and eastern fronts, together
with their rapid augmentation on
either side whenever occasion called
for an increase of electives, have been
now clearly set forth. The figures
given refer to the various phases of.
the war, starting with the invasion Of
Belgium In August, 1914, going right
through the allied offensives Of 1915
and 1915, the German operations be-
fore Verdun, the movements ON the
Russian and Roumanian frontiers, and
concluding with the position as 1t was
on September 1 this year.
It will be see that In 1914 the Ger
mans threw onto the western front,
including the army that forced Its way
through Belgium, 1,190 b~attalions Of
infantry; while on the Russian front,
from which they did not await much
activity, they left only 322 battalions.
BY September / this year these totals
had been enormously raised, for on
that date they had or the Franco-Bel-
gian-British front no fewer than 1859
battalions, while On the eastern front
they had In position 965 battalions.
Thus at the present moment they are
employing 2.334 battalions on both
fronts. whereas ut the opening of hos
tilities only 1872 were engaged.
From One Side to Other.
A glance at the totals of the battal-
ions In line on the two fronts at differ
ent periods Of the wal Is interesting.
as showing how the principal effort Of
the Germans has swung from time to
time from one side to the other.
The attack on Belgium and France
absorbed the attention Of the German
stan when war broke out In August,
1914, and the Russian front was left to
q very great extent to take care of
itself. At that time the infantry effec-
tives were disposed as follows:
Divisions OF
4Rgts. each. Baths.
Dn the western front....... 96M 1.190
On the eastern front........ 26h 322
The battle Of the User In November,
1914. caused the Germans to intensity
their effort In the West. They brought
up their electives to a higher total
there, but ut the same time they were
becoming rather anxious about the Rus
sian front, and therefore added to the
number Of their troops on that side,
making the position as follows:
Divisions Of
Regis. Battns.
IN the western front,.......104M 1928
IN the eastern front......, S2h 399
Then came the Russian offensive,
which compelled Germany to look
round In order to ind more troops to
meet 1t. She therefore reduced her
electives somewhat on the western
front and sent them eastward. at the
same time bringing some more battal-
Ions from the interior to add to those
pm the Russian frontier. In September,
1915, by which time the maximum of
the German effort had been reached on
that side. the position stood:
Divisions OF
o Rgts. Baths.
IN the western front.......103 LILO
On the eastern front........ 81 $50
Verdun was the next great move
ment the Germans had In view, and In
order to win a victory there they had
changed the disposition Of their infan-
try electives by bringing many divi-
si0ns westward, so that the position In
June, 1915, was:
Divisions Of
or 4 Rgts. Baths.
On the western front........1 25 1,S7o
On the eastern front........ Is 57l
Strings Further chanuea
A fresh awakening Of activity in the
East was Qccasioped when Roumapia