Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-05
FRANCE NOT BLED WHITE,
BuTAT TOP or STRENGTH
(Repubuc Has 5000, 900 Men in Field,
and Can Keep Them There
for Years.
RECENT RUMoRs ARE UNTRUE
Remarkable Nation, In Addition, Has
Re-Equipped and Rearmed Bel
CLANS, Serbians and Grccks-Com-
missioner Tells OF Conditions.
DY ID. d. EpWARDs.

WASHINGTON. August 4.-Francc,
tho nation that suffered the brunt of
the war at the beginning. has 5000 :
600 men in the battle zone to-day. This
is 100000 moro than rushed to the
coiors whom the Teuton machin.
surgcd on towards Belgium.
She can maintain this number ef-
fectively for several years to come.
France. although unprepared and in
the midst OF war. so co-ordinatcd her
Industries that now her production OF
munitions is almost inexhaustible.
even by the present employment Of
Iyunheard-of quantities.
While doing this for herself tho re-
markable nation has completeIy re-
equipped and re-armed the Belgian.
serbian and Greek armies.
complete exposition OF this wonder
tui work Of France has been given to
Secretary OF War Baker by NJ. Andre
Yardieu, high commissioner Of the
f.French republic, and made public to-
day.
n. TARDIEU's LETTER
TO SECRETARY BAKER
NJ Tardieu's letter to Secretary
Baker reads:
July 80. 1917.
Dear Mr.. Baker.
recent talk the surprise 1 felt I'm read
inE so often in American newspapers
some utterly inaccurate Information re-
sarding the military conditions pre-
vailing in Europe and especially In
the French army. In connection with
our conversation believe It would be
OF interest to present to you some hg-
urcs which. better than any com
ments, will expose to you the reality.
N1hese h8ures will show you France as
she really is. vigorous and powerful
despite thrce years Of suffering with
( out precedent in history.
e. ne strength in men. now present,
IN inc zone OF the armies alone, shows
Inc maximum figure reached during the
war. This fiBure. which amounts 10
"a little less than 100000 men, ex.
ceeds by over 100000 the number of
men actually in the zone at the begin
ming and one must add to that figure
me men In the zone of the Interior
and in the colonies.
we are certain with the resources
or our metropolitan and colonial de-
pots to be able 10 maintain that mum
Der up to Its present level for long
Time to come. Our strength In men,
by reason OF a better command and of
better methods of instruction. ha,
shown since the beginning of the war
constantly decreasing casualties (kin-
Ing, missing and those taken prison
ers).
Tho following figures substantial.
this:
Battles OF Charle-oi and of the
Marine 5.4l per cent casualties lin pro-
portion to tho total mob!Iized
rstrength).
First six months OF 1915. a.as per
cent caHualties.
Second six months OF 1915. l.6s per
cent casualties.
First six months OF 1916. 1.47 per
cent casualties.
Second six months OF 1916. les per
cent casualties.
= For measuring the offensive and de-
fensive quality OF the troops whose
numerical strength have indicated
above, can do nothing better than
to quote some figures.
FRENCH ARMY HOLDS.
Two-THIHDS OF FRONT
The western front has an extension
OF 739 kilometers. Twenty-seven kilo-
meters arc held by the Belgians. 13s
by the English. and STA by the French.
The French army holds accordingly
more than two-thirds OF the western
front. that Is to say. OF the front where
the enemy has always directed it's chief
eSertionss,
Tho German divisions in line on the
western front were moreover June.