The Washington herald., 1917-11-04
GERMANS MASK
HUGE LOSS BY
ITALIAN drive
French Commission Here
Points Out Significance
of Western Defeat.
BY TRACEY HAMMOND LEWIS.

BY TRACEY HAMMOND LEWIS.
So great has been the superiority OF
the allies on the western front during
the past four months, it is stated in
an analysis of recent operations in
this region made by the French high
commission in Washington yesterday,
that Germany had to engage during
the battle Of Flanders seventy dlvis-
ions successfully, which Is about one
half of their total forces on that front
without once registering success
In the attention which has lately
been concentrated upon the Teuton
strokes in Russia and Italy. the ten
dency has been to lose sight Of the
full significance of the allies victories
on the western front.
They mean that il is imperative for
Germany to transfer more troops to
the French front; that the help which
Germany could give the Austrian
army in Italy will be restricted until
they have brought to an end the
Anglo-French victories on the west
ern front, and that IL Germany had
the intention OF ayaiIing herself of the
last weeks Of favorable weather, fol-
lowing her successes at Riga-Jacob-
stadt, this has probably been prevent
ed by the battle OF Flanders.
A. the French See 1t.
The statement of the French high
commission reads in part:
1T Is not necessary to recall that
in the battle of Flanders alone the
allies have captured up to now 5000
prisoners. of whom 100 are officers;
500 machine guns and 100 cannon.
They have succesively conquered
three equally strong positions on a
front of thirty kilometers and on a
depth OF seven kilometers.
This advance, accomplished thanks
to the power of their material and to
the offensive worth OF their troops.
has made the allies masters Of the
important line of heights which COM
mand the plains of Roulers-Courtrai.
The superiority OF their artillery, the
energy and sting of their infantry ana
also the great fury with which the
Germans very often in close forma-
tion have counter attacked in vain.
have certainly caused the enemy veI
heavy losses.
at could be expected that the
enemy would try to withdraw some
troops from his eastern front in order
to provide for the battle front of
Flanders. This he began to do by
sending in September the Nineteenth
German Reserve Division from the
Riga front to that of Ypres. 1t is
possible that other divisions followed.
1T is unqucstionab!e that the state
of the Russian army, much more
than the bad season. through the
slackening and even the stopping of
all active operations. allowed Ger
many TO take away troops from its
eastern front TO seek elsewhere the
success so necessary both to the Ger
man people and to discontented and
tired Austria
Costly for the Germans.
What is exactly the strength of the
forces which Germany has flung
against Italy. for the first time since
the two countries have been at war.
\Ce do not as yet know; and all dis
Sussion on this subject would be use
less In view of the fact that such
forces have been sufficient to assure
them the rapid advance which must
absolutely be checked.
But, at the same time. it is ad-
visable to note that the new French
offensive on the Aisne has cost the
enemy, in two days. the loss OF sew
eral villages and important heights
besides 1000 prisoners Of whom 200
are officers, and 10 cannons without
counting the large war material, and
will render it still more imperative
for Germany to transfer more troops
to the French front
Such is, Irrespective of the exact
losses inflicted on the enemy and of
the tactical advantages secured by
the allies, the true import OF their
successes on the Western front"