The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-11-02
English Writer Shows How
Forces Were Swung to
and Fro.
WEST TOTAL near MAXIMUM
On Sept. I the Fighting Troops There,
He Figures, Reached 1869 Batal-
ions-Roumania's Entry
Causes Swift Change.

for an increase of electives, have beer
now clearly set forth. The figures
given refer to the various phases Of
the war, starting with the invasion Of
Belgium in August. 1914, going rlght
through the allied offensives of 1917
and 1916. the German operations be
fore Verdun, the movements on the
Russian and Roumanian frontiers, and
concluding with the position as 1t was
on September l this year.
1t will be seen that In 1914 the Ger.
mans threw onto the western front
including the army that forced its way
through Belgium, 1,190 battalions OF
infantry; while on the Russian front,
from which they did not await much
activity, they left only 300 battallons.
BY September l this year these totals
had been enormously raised, for ON
that date they had on the Franco-Bel-
gian-BritIsh front no fewer than 1899
5attalions, while on the eastern front
they had In position 965 battallons.
Thus at the present moment they are
employing 1884 battalions on both
fronts, whereas at the opening of hos.
tilities only 1872 were engaged.
From One Side to Other.
A glance at the totals of the battal-
ions in line on the two fronts at differ
ent periods of the war is interesting,
as showing how the principal effort OF
the Germans has swung from time to
time from one side TO the other.
The attack on Belgium and France
absorbed the attention OF the German
staff when war broke out In August,
1914. and the Russian front was left to
a very great extent to take care of
itself. AT that time the infantry effec-
tives were disposed as follows:
Divisions OF
Rgts. each, gattns
On the western front...,.... 96ia l.iso
On the eastern front.....,.s 26is 81
The battle of the User In November
1914, caused the Germans to Intensity
their effort In the West. They brought
up their electives to a higher total
there, but at the same time they were
becoming rather anxious about the Rus
sian front and therefore added 10 the
number OF their troops on that side
making the position as follows:
Divisions or
REGIS Baths
On the western front .I04lz I,29
On the eastern front. ....a, 22t4 ssl
Then came the Russian offensive.
which compelled. Germany to look
round in order to find more troops to
meet 1t. She therefore reduced her
electives somewhat on the western
front and sent them eastward. at the
;ame time bringing some more battal-
ions from the interior to add to those 1
On the Russian frontier. In September.
1915. by which time the maximum OF
he German effort had been reached on !
hat side, the position stood: Il
Divisions OF
Dor 4Rgts. Baths
m the western front........10 LI20l I
IN the eastern front....... 81 TO c
Ferdun was the next great move ! r
nent the Germans had In view, and in p
rider to win victory there they had 9
hanged the disposition Of their infan- =
ry electives by bringing many divi- =
ions westward, so that the position in !,
une, 1915, was: :
Divisions Of
s,or Rgts. Baths !.
n the western front.......1z5 1.s7e "
n the eastern front. ...... 4s 5Hi
Brings Further Changes. b
A fresh awakening Of activity in the CO
asst was occasioned when Roumania
anne into the war. This brought fur n
her changes In the proportional ;,
trength of the German forces on the + +
espective fronts. In December, 1915, b,
ley were as follows: :,
Divisions of
sor Rgts. Baths. .,
n the western front........12s LIZ ~
q the eastern front. ~ 500 .n
In July, 1917, which saw the opening 70
both British and French offensive ~
ovements, the Germans were COM =,
eiled to reinforce their armies on q,
he western front, and this brought 81
it'll 1t a reduction Of their strength at
1 the eastern frontier. The totals or
ere then: ID
Divs. generally eV
OFFS Rgts. Battns
! the western front. .......B5 la5e -
/ the eastern 'front.'. 70 500 y.
Owing to events connected with the ~
volution In Russia, Germany threw ~ ~
me more troops into the eastern field q,
operations, and on September l the co
tuation was as follows: be
Divisions OF fr
9Rgts. Baths. in
! the western front........1H 1g69 n,
! the eastern front. 90 g65 l,e
These figures refer merely to the he
oops engaged in the fighting line, and vi
ave out of account those In garrison an
the interior of the country, as well mt
those on the lines Of communica- tn
IN.
At the beginning Of the war the 81,
rength Of the German battalion was III,
'out 1000 men. On the assumption tIr
at this strength has been maintained
Q correspondents statement indi- iai
ties the presence Of 100000 German yo
oops on the western front in Septem- ~
r.