The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-05

Clay. Ky, August 4-Twenty-fo four men dead and 25 injured was the known toll of an explosion here early today in the south entry of No. mine of the West Kentucky Coal company, accord ing, to Charles S. Richardson, vice presi- dent and general manager.
 Of approximately 40 men in the mine at the time of the explosion, 115 had been brought to the surface early tonight, that French armies have had an ample supply of the famous "75s" from the first and that her 300 heavy guns in August, 1914. had increased to 5000 in June, 1917, giving one heavy gun for every 26 meters of the French offen- sive fronts this year. Including all field and trench guns, he says. there is a gun for every eight meters in the sector of attack.
 TO FEED THE "75's"
 To feed the "75's'' the daily output of shells has risen from 13.oo0 in 1914 to a quarter of a million today and 100000 projectiles for the heavy guns are supplied each day in addition. Dur ing the last offensive a total weight of projectiles averaging 1442 kilograms (about one and one-half tons) was hurled into every lineal meter of the German trenches assaulted and 12.- 000,000 shells of all calibers were ex- pended by French guns. In addition to all this, France completely re- equipped and re-armed the Belgian, Servian and Greek armies and fur nished 800 heavy guns to her allies.
 On the financial side the tables show that France has expended 82,64l.0oo, QUO francs (nearly $16.0o0,0 0,000,000) since the war began. During the war she re- ceived from foreign countries 6,000,000 francs and loaned to several of her al lies 100000 francs.
 M Tardieus letter follows:
 Dear Mir Baker: I brought to your knowledge, in a recent talk, the surprise I felt in reading so often in American newspapers some utterly inaccurate in- formation regarding the military condi- tions prevailing in Europe and especial ly in the French army.
 Tn connection with our conversation, I believe 1t would be of interest to pre- sent to you some figures which, better tran any comments, will expose to you the reality; these figures will show you France as she is, vigorous and powerful, in spite of three years of suffering with out precedent in history.
 T. Strength in men: The strength in men, now present in the zone of the armies alone, show the maximum figure reached during the war.
 This figure, which amounts to little less than 100000 men, exceeds by over 100000 the number of men actually in the said zone at the beginning, and must add to the figure the men in the zone of the interior and in the colonies.
 We are certain with the resources Of our metropolitan and colonial depots, to be able to maintain that number up to it's present level for long time to come
 Our strength in men. by reason of a better command and of better methods of instruction, has shown, since the be- ginning of the war. constantly decreasing definite casualties Qxilled, missing and those taken prisoner).
 PROOF IS SUBMITTED
 "The following figures on casualties Gin proportion to the total mobilized strength) substantiate this:
 Battles of Charleroi and of the Marne 5. fl per cent casualties: first six months of 1915, 2.39 per cent; second six months of 1915, 1.6S per cent; first six months of 1916, 1.47 per cent; second six months of 1916, 1.2S per cent.
 '.2. Front held: For measuring the of fensive and defensive quality of the troops whose numerical strength I have indicated above, I can do nothing better than to quote some more figures. The western front has an extension of 7& kilometers, 27 kilometers are held by the Belgians, 13S kilometers are held by the English. STA kilometers are held by the French. The French army holds ac- cordingly more than two-thirds of the western front, that is to say, of the front where the enemy has always di rected his chief exertion.
 'The German divisions in line on the western front were, moreover in June, 1917, distributed as follows: 42 opposite the English, S1 opposite the French. A German division holds an average front of 4 kilometers and 700 meters, a French division an average front of kilometers and 500 meters. that is to say, one- sixth more
 'S. Artillery: We were amply furnished with '75s'' since the beginning of the war. The number of these guns was constantly increased; 1t is adequate to