The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-10-10
French High Commission Is
sues Statement Showing
Why Decision is Expected
Supreme Effort Was
Made to Check British
Drive In Flanders Attri-
ton Now Telling Teuton
Resources Fast Diminish
{ ing.

IN the summer of next year are GER
tain to be of a decisive character,
says an official statement issued yes
terday by the French high commits
sion andf based upon data in the pos
session Of the French General Staff.
After thoroughly canvasing the sit
iuation resulting from the campaigns
of 1915 and 1917, and demonstrating
that the Germans are no longer cap
able or sustained offensive, the
French commission continues:
"On the other hand, the British
and French armies have reached
their full strength in men and ma
korial and are capable. with the help
OF America. of maintaining the enor-
nous strength which they have gain
"a to the end of the war. To this
strength viii, be added the great
american. army, which will arrive as
Quickly as possible, as three years of
war have demonstrated the value OF
time and the advantage of each day
This shows the decisive character
attending the operations of 1918.
yyhen three great democracies, Eng
land. France ana America, will units
their strength in attacking the enemy
~ SoHAO unity ~ tlte oHiy souao priH-
cip1e OF war;
Germany still. has great powers of
resistance. the statement says. and is
capable Of very vigorous offensives."
but the data collected by the French
General Staff makes it clear that she
-ia fighting losing fight.
IN The commission's statement fol-
Both Franco German fronts on the
Aisne. 1917, and yerdun. 1915, have
e1ready been compared, and it has
been not1d t3at they are practically
Of the sane l6hgth 1t has been stat
ed that the German forces occupy
ing them. before the attack were
equally comparab e-twelve and four
tecn divisions. It is known today
that during the same period, from
May to September. the Germans en-
gaged twenty-five fresh divisions at
verduns and that they have been OBJ
liged to Rneage forty five on the
Aisne WlEthsrmq<e, during an equal
period To EIshdk took $3.50 prison
ers at yerduh. and 8 $50 on the Aisne.
This comparison included only a
small sector Of the French front. But
due to. the increase Of the material
81 rrra,,ch fight,,,g r,athods si,ce
osonfed bv fbe otbar ar,nias ard
.rs-, = : &s-t.sta-s ~ az rr.r,,s -, -
ft~sse !. v,~,,v,r,s ~ az pa+ti. - II :
~, ..,,,st,,,,,r +,,asr Saeaa+.
70 TIE nerfsct use If tect,nical
/ n,ettodss ~ :
IF the above comparison is today
exfended to. the entire Franco Eng
lfSh front, IL YOU consider that from
~ ~ = un1 - .ie ehe,is ensas
ed 1os divisions against the Anglo
rfoncn 1orces ana, many one
2sars - IT tnin a. .nat the successes OF
s 1850 81 ensive az Iples opns
49, 49, 1n9iny ~, - snsase Al.een uivi-
3 siAe .as, ser uaye' Sou
vi. uA ',' slanu why .ne e1eriIian loss
~ On the western front grow heavier
410 neayier- Ntney ADMIT tne loss OF
44o,Vvv men during the month Of
may, 114,V00 men. are estimated by
xne Allies starr curing. the month OF
June, ctc-)
1his r because the fighting on the
western 'front.' as a matter OF fact
the French sectors of Verdun of the
Arras and Ypres, the lighting is only
discontinued at one point to be taken
up AZ another In addition to the big
attacks. . quantity OF carefully pre-
1rea snall actions winch nave beer
e pei a are not aDie TO give =
1891 'o97 increase INC attritlon o.
me 80 Se1 la.ns.
tnis Sotlsrsne aeavluy, coinclolhe
49, .s eoss anu .nao.lon ~
$3.50 ~1''N-A - 11p'@s why lns