The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-10-10
FIRST DECREASE
IN STRENGTH OF
GERMANS SHOWN
French General Staff Saws
Supreme Power of Foe
Has Passed.
RESERVE DEPLETED
BY ALLIES ATTACK
Constant AttritiOn Sapping
Enemy's Power on West
Battle Line.

Washington, Oct. 9.-.tiermany'a mil
| itary strength now shows a clear de-
crease for the first time since the war
| began, according to a review based on
data.of the French general staff, made
public hero tonight bv tho French
high commission.
Worn down and driven back by the
| never-endinE pounding of the allies on
the western front. the statement says,
the Germans have made their supreme
military effort, after drawing heavily
ON their inactive armies In the east
and calling out their 1913 and part of
the 1919 reserves.
Thus. while the allies have reached
and are prepared to maintain their fun
strength while awaiting the coming OF
Americas great army, the enemy's re-
sources are diminishing at the very
moment when the military situation
demands that they increase.
This shows" the statement con-
cludes. 'the decisive character attend
ing the operations in 1918. when three
great democracies. England. France
and America, will unite their entire
strength in attacking the enemy in
conformity with the only sound prin-
ciple of war
IF you consider that from April l5
10 June 10 the enemy engaged los di-
visions against the Anglo- French
forces, and II one bears In mind thai
the successes of the British offensive
at Ypres obliged the enemy to engage
ID divisions during the last ten days
n Tar h,r h.
losses on the western front grow
heavier and heavier. crhoy admit the
loss OF $4,000 men during tho month
of May, 100000 men are estimated by
the allied staff during the month of
Iune)
This is because the fighting on the
western front. AZ u matter of fact,
practically never ceases.
Germans Fear Break in Line.
TT clearly appears a, presen, TINT
the German staff, remembering the
critical situation IN which they found
themselves following the Anglo French
successes In the Somme In 1916, fears
to see the western front broken by
the allied offensives In 1917,
"All the measures they have taken
tended 10 strengthen their resistance.
"They have exchanged their picked
troops OF the eastern front for the in
ferior ones OF the western from,
uandwehr).
"That Germany has made her s,t.
rreme military effort in evidenced by
the two following statements, which
should be compared for future enlisht-
eminent:
.'l-Not only has she been Obliged
to break up several newly formed
regiments to reinforce The fighting
units, but, for the first time since the
beginning of the war. IA clear decrease
in the total strength of the German
forces Is on record.
Forced to Increase Reserve.
'22---At the very time that her total
strength Is diminishing Germany
finds herself obliged 10 Increase her
reserves on the French front TO 40
divisions with the sole aim OF afford
ing relay and resistance. Therefore.
just as the offensive strength OF the
Germans has been broken In the open
fields on the Marne and User and In
the trench warfare at Nerdun her
facilities for manenvering. that Is TO
say the possibility OF transporting
valuable reserves from one front to
another, is prevented at present by the
continuity and intensity of the Anglo
French offensive. Germany has still
great powers of resistance which will
take all the allied forces to break But
her resources are diminishing at the
very moment when the military stu
| ion rnnIIirCg that thew shnIlH ip
crease.
"That is the principal point.
1918 Campaign Decisive.
"On the other hand, British and
French armies have reached their full
strength In men and material and are
capable. with the help of America, OF
maintaining the enormous strength
which they have gained to the end of
the war. To this strength will be
added the great American army which
Will arrive as quickly as possible as
three years Of war have demonstrated
the value of time and the advantage of
each day gained. This shows the de-
cisive character attending the opera
tions of 1918, when thre great democ-
racies. England, France and America
will unite their entire strength in at
tacklng tho enemy. In conformity TO
the only sound principle OF war;