Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-04-28
GERMAN MACHINE
BEATEN, IS CLAIM
French Officers Declare Allies
Are Superior in Men and
Equipment Now.
HARD FIGHTING YET AHEAD
Bitter Months of Struggle to
Come, Members of Com
mission Tell America.

WASHINGTON. April 27.-While
definite ascendancy over the German
war machine has been established by
the allied forces in France, both IN
personnel and equipment, and event.
ual victory is in sight. many months
of bitter fighting are still ahead
This is the view of military experts
attached to Frances war commission
as gathered by officers of the Ameri
can general staff today during in
formal conversations at the war de
partment. The French officers dis
cussed the situation most frankly.
Much of what was said was strictly
confidential and information as 10
the Immediate military situation of
the utmost Importance was freely
given under that seal
In addition. ;he American experts
obtained mary facts ana fSurcs APP
rlving directly to problems % e CON
sldcred by the United Statca IN rais-
ing its war army md which are not
regarded as military secrets
.Dcrrcc!ation' 10 Fer Cent.
Statements of the Frenchmen fully
confirmed conclusions reached by the
General staff after its lrns study of
losses in all armies actually engage
iE FJropc in an e'fcrt to learh me
provision they must make for main
taining The fighting strength NJ an
army at the front The terrible toll
in dead naimel and pris >ners com
Iuted on figures inclu'ing ia s.a
enormous losses In captured, an'nun-S
TO 10 per cent Il month OF troops III
the front. Halt of these are permt-
nently out of action and were 1t not
fer the constant stream of recruits
Lning fOrwari every day an army II
a million men soon would fade away
OF the wounded or i'll sent to the
rear, great numbers recuperate and
return to their regiments. with
medical corps service working at the
highest possible efficiency half of the
entire loss OF an army is recovered to
active duty. But the process takes
more than thre months.
A Reason for Draft.
This condition is one of the impell-
ing reasons why the general staff
stood firmly for the selective draft
feature of the administration army
bill. Under the volunteer plan Eng
lands forces at the front were In
some cases so reduced in strength that
their predicament was serious. France
had no difficulty on that score. I'm
der her system of universal military
service, classes were called up as they
were needed and the loss at the front
offset promptly. Each unit of the
army has been maintained at full
strength and In laying their plans
Marshal Joffre and his assistants have
been able always to say that so many
regiments could be assigned to GER
tain work as the fighting strength Of
each was fixed quantity.
No Recommendations.
There was no indication that the
French officers had any suggestions
to make as 20 the part the United
States army is to play in the great
war.
They came to place themselves and
their experience at the disposal of the
American officers, to answer ques-
tons. not to ask that certain things
be done.
The American staff officers arc
known to oppose vigorously any sug-
gestion that a small eXpeditionary
force be sent to Europe for its moral
effect. They say their immediate con-
Germ is to see that the American army
is placed in such a position that when
the time comes to send men to the
front they will be so strong. Sc well
trained and equipped, so adequately
supplied that 1t will make It's weight
felt Immediately. even In field where
millions already are combating.