The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1917-10-12
WESTERN AFFAIRS.

WESTERN AFFAIRS.
The following summary Of the situa-
tion on the western front was written by
Frank II. Simons, one Of the most re-
liable war correspondents of the present
day and is taken from the Review of
Reviews, of October.
Evidently the higher strategy of the
Allies aimed at aprepetition of last years
procedure this year. Then there we're
attacks upon all fronts. Russian and
Italian upon the Austrian fronts; French
and British upon the German, with ma
terial victories in the East and consider
able progress in the West. This year
Russia was led off again to Galicia, al
though the French and British had
made initial attacks in the spring. Italy
was to 60 on along the Isonzo, as she
had gone on last summer to the capture
of Gorlzla. The main Allied effort was
to be in Flanders and northward from
Ypres.
But Russla tried and failed With a
terrible after effect. Her Gallcian arm
les dislntegrated, there was shameful
fight, and rapid military breakdown.
BY August l, when the French and
British were ready to attack in Flanders
Russia was no longer factor and Ger
many was free to use most of her re.
sources IN the West. Austria, too could
bring men and guns from the Dniester
to the 1sonzo By August l, the hope OF
a decision this year was over and it was
no longer the part of wise generalshir
to risk too grert losses in-opefations that
could not decide the struggle in the
present campaign.
CASUALTIES IN FLANDERS
The result has been seen IN recent
weeks. There has been terrific fight.
ing in Flanders. The mere casualty
lists of the British, 28, 5000 in week that
had no striking incident, that is, great.
er loss than Meade or Lee suffered al
Gettysburg, demonstrate the intensity
of the fighting, but it has seen no great
attack. There IS steady pounding
going on, an ever-monting casualty list
and German losses are not inferior to
British, for the Germans are outgunned
and outmunitioned, but no attempt to
repeat the Somme campaign. For the
year British strategy does not seem to
go beyond killing Germans on the lines
that are now familiar to the world.
Next year we shall see grand effort
made by the British, French, and Amer.
ican troops all along the western front.
This year. in my judgment, one more
British thrust on the Ypres front will be
the extent of the campaigning. for the
weather will very soon get bad; four
weeks is probably the outside limit OF
good fighting weather that remains.
LOSSES OF GERMANS AND BRITISH
After their losses this year, the Allies
figure that the Germans will be short of
men next year. Their casualties
this year will eat up the reserves that
Russian collapse released in the East.
The main Allied aim this year must be
to dispose of these reserve at minimum
of cost, and this ls being done. Next
year American man-power will be avail.
able and German much depleted. The
French general staff IN interesting figures
lately placed the German loss up to the
beginning of the fourth year of the war
that is. the permanent loss as 100000
in killed. wounded and captured. Four
million out of the fighting, this means,
with another half-million in hospital
who will come back presently.
RESERVE FORCES
The same estimate fixed at 5,5OO,OOO
the Germans on the line or behind the
line engaged IN necessary military tasks.
This left reserve of 100000 made up
mainly of boys of seventeen and eight
cen, with an eventual reserve of soc, 600
drawn from the men now in hospital.
BY April this reserve will have fallen to
less than 10000 and this is the total
reserve Of men available to repair vast.
age for the whole campaign. It is less
than half the British reserve. We shall
probably provide the French with half
q million before the campaign Of 1918 is
over and, with their new class Of 1918.
this will give them . reserve equal to
the German, had they exhausted al
other reserve, which is not the case.
We all know what the last year and i