Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-18
GREAT |NROADs MADE
IN TEUT0N MAN POWER
Carefully Compiled Figures Show
Germans Have Lost $4,000 In
Last Three Months.
FEW REGENERATION PERIODS
Divisions Frequently Thrown Back
Into Front Lines After Brlefest
Rest-Withdrawn Only After One
Third of Men Have Been Lost.
IRy Associated prns..l


inroads have been made on the
strength of the German troops hold
Ing the line on tho Franco-British
front during the attacks delivered on
them in the months of April, May and
June. An estimate made on we'll
established averages demonstrates that
thetr losses must approximate $4,000
men.
Before the spring operations of the
French and British began. the German
front had been divided into two sec
tors. entirely independent Of each
other One faced the French between
the Olse and the Swiss frontier. and
was under command Of tho crown
prince. Tho other confronted the
British from the North Sea to the Disc,
and was commanded by the Bavarian
Crown Prince.
At the beginning Of the Franco
British ofrensives the Germans had at
their disposal on the whole front
stretching from the North Sea to Swift
zerland LAT divisions. of which los were
actually in the front line and forty
two in tho rear. ready any moment
their help was needed. These reserve
divisions were about equally dis
tributcd In the northern and southern
sectors. The Russian situation per-
mittcd the Germans to detach some
OF their active divisions from that
front, and at the same time they
formed several new divisions, which
they brought to the French front, 30
that on June 20 the number of their
divisions facing the French and British
was l55. in spite OF the fact that they
had replaced the active divisions
brought from Russia by Landwehr
units sent from this side.
SHIFTING OF DIVISIONS
REsoRTED TO REGULARLY
Tho strength OF, the German forces
on the Franco British front cannot
however. be calculated exactly from
the number of their divisions, for no
fever than liz of the 155 have been
thrown into the battles at various
times. and twcnty-three Of them have
been twice engaged. thus totaling in
reality las divisions which have been
in action.
As general rule, a division is not
withdrawn from the fighting line until
It has lost one-third OF it's electives,
and thus tho German losses may be
fairly accurately gagged. For in
stance, German division nowadays
when at full strength numbers ap-
proximatcly $500 infantrymen. There
fore, the 135 divisions which have
passed through the FIRE in all proba-
bility each lost $500 killed, wounded
and prisoners, making in all 34T.50O
casualties in the infantry alone in less
than three months. without regard to
the losses among the artillery engi-
neers and other service troops.
~ hn a;,-t,
this front have not taken part in the
lighting. these comprising eighteen
Landwehr divisions, considered as sec
ond-line troops, and twenty-five other
divisions.
SOME GERMAN DIVISIONS
WITHDRAWN AFTER TWO DAYS
Some OF the German divisions have
had to be withdrawn after only tGb
days lighting. on account OF their
losses. others after from four TO six
days and still others only after fifteen
days or even month.
During quiet periods. such as now,
division may remain as long as six
or seven weeks in n front sector with
out relief and 1t is known that Mt
least seven German divisions now en-
gagged have occupied their sectors of
the front line for this period
a German division which has suffered
heavy losses is generally given a rest.
vnrying from five to twelve days. in
which TO recuperate and have it's ranks
rehlled from the depots. and then it is
sent to hold calm sector Sometimes,
however, it has been found necessary
to send such a division back to active
work almost Immediately. while in
other cases a months rest has been
necessary.
One peculiar feature noticed on this
front Is that the German divisions
brought back from Russia have never
been sent into the first line without
going through a fresh course of train
ing, as 1t was found tn troops had