The Clio messenger., 1917-12-07


sible, the British blow at the vimy
ridge came three weeks before II was
expected and the old marslml's plans
went glimmering. He had to stand
and fight on the defensive, abandoning
his strategic scheme.
The German divisions are now only
three-quarters their former strength,
and consist as rule of nine battalions
instead of twelve; which means 1900
bayonets to the division If each bat
TALON Is at full strength, but In prac-
tice not more than 1900 bayonets to
an average division.
German Divisions Shattered.
In six weeks of full-dress fighting
this year, 90 German divisions were
sent In against the British in the Ar
ras battles and against thesFrench on
the Aisne and in Champagne. or these
divisions 27 were so shattered that
they had to be withdrawn. and later
appeared again, their gaps refilled
with reserves. Several came back for
the third time. In six weeks. there
fore, only AZ Of the German divisions
garrisoning the western front had not
been dragged into the great Suction
actions" Figures on the latest fighting
are not obtainable.
During the entire battle of the
Somme, which lasted four months. 80
separate German divisions were en-
gagged, many of them sent back for the
second or third time after being
smashed up.
In six weeks of the more intense
fighting of 1917, the Germans were
compelled to use practically the same
man-power TO stand up against the
British and French onslaughts as they
poured into the whole SOmme action
from start to finish. No more men
than absolutely necessary are sent in
to the internal fire maintained by the
allied artillery. BY the figures have
given are to be calculated the results
Of the first phase of this years fight
ing, not by progress measured on
map. Every division sent into these
battles suffers heavily under the con-
stant shelling to which 1t Is subjected
from the time it enters the zone Of
long range fire miles behind the trench
lines until what is left Of it reaches
safety again.
But does not this process Of attri-
ton work both ways? Are not British
and French divisions drawn in the
same way under the shells of con-
centrated German batteries7 How can
we talk about success and ultimate
victory If both sides are bleeding to
death in this fashion?
Balance Heavily Against Germans.
In the answers to these questions
lies the real cause OF the optiuism Mt
the front. Heavy as are the allied
losses, the attrition process is not op-
Grating to the same extent on both
sides. There are several factors Mt
work this year that are weighing down
the balance heavily against the Ger
mans.
First comes the allied superiority in
the air. This is indisputable, and man
ifest to the most casual observer. ON
clear days, | have seen dozens of Brit
ish airplanes bu2zing over the German
lines to catch sight Of IN enemy plane
on our side is now nm event, and an
exciting event, because the venture
some intruder is sure to be fighting an
angry swarm of British or French
wasps. Sometimes the Germans send
squadrons of high-speed scouts scut-
tling along three miles in the air. hut
at these great attitudes observation
even with German lenses Is not Of the
best. The only German squadron I
saw myself during several days of per-
feet observing weather was engaged
at an enormous height, in struggle
with five or six British planes. There
are hundreds of good German air
planes, with first class pilots. hut so
relentless Is the allied aerial offensive
that they are compelled to remain be-
hind their own lines on an almost con-
tinuous defensive and 1t Is over Ger
man territory under the protecting fire
Of German arches that 10 fights out Of
20 now take place.
Must "Shoot OFF the Map"
The results Of this situation would
ne IllHUlItSI III lue hStS SNSh
IL the guns and shells on each side
were equal. The Germans are COM
PEELED to "shoot off the map" where
they have not direct observation over
the enemy lines from some higher
grounds: that is their gunners must
fire Mt roads whose ranges can he cal
culated or at places where they mere
ly guess allied guns are placed, In the
absence Of air photography to show
them what to shoot at, or Of "spotting"
planes over the enemy positions to
wireless the results Of their marks
manship. BY taking the Vimy ridge
and the commanding height at Monchy.
the British early in the Arrns fighting
deprived the Germans Of direct OBJ
servation over their communications,
and were able to watch miles Of the
German lines: an instance Of the real
value of winning ground, not as an
end in itself, but merely as one Of n
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