The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-05
ALLIED FORCES IN
FRANCE 0UTNUMbER
THOSE Of GERMANS
Forthcoming Drive of
Boches to Be Met By
$500, 900.
HUNS HAVE 2,642, 900
Enemy Has Been Unable
to Withdraw AS Many
Men AS Expected
From Russ F 'front.'.
HUNS HAVE 2,642,O

Washington. July Figures COM
piled here from official German and al
lied reports indicate that the allied
armies in France will far outnumber
those of General Ludendorff when the
forthcoming German drive 10 Launched.
Germany will marshal 2,S42,o00 men
and the allies Will nave at least 5,9Vo,-
00e il is believed.
These figures are based upon pub
lished reports in Germany which state
that the French and British now have
approximately Ill divisions or $780,
600 men To this must be added the
American force of 100000 in round
numbers and the Italian, Belgian ana
Portuguese troops. AS the forces OF
the last three mentioned countries are
not large and will undoubtedly be Off
set by divisions which the Germans
will send to the western front later.
they are not calculated In the total
strength of the allies.
The strength of German forces In
based upon recent statements gath
cred by allied agents within the Ger
man lines. These reports show that
although Germany planned to have at
least 2io divisions OF approx imately
$4,000 each of the western front by
July /, she has been unable to with
draw as many men as was expected
from the Russian front and has only
.o3 divisions confronting the allied line
in the west at this time.
The activity of the British. French
and Americans in the past week show
much palmer than figures the fact
that the allies are confident that the
offensive cannot rest long with the
Germans. The impression persists that
the Germans will attempt one more
monster drive in an effort to sustain
the morale of Austria-Hungary and
the Bulgarians, who of late have
shown tendency to move for sepa-
rate peace.
The amount Of preparation for "a
drive of the dimensions OF the two main
German offensives this year is enor-
nous. Six weeks elapsed between the
great drive on the Amfens front and
that between Scissors and Rheims. It
is believed that an equal amount of
time may be used by the Germans in
preparing for the next attack. II such
proves to be the case. the next attack
will not be attempted before the close
Of July. That such delay 10 possible
is supported by the fact that Germany
cannot attempt more than one great
attack in the lighting time which re-
mains this year.
The weather in Flanders and North
ern France is such that a great often
sive Is impossible after October 1. II
WpulQ dEpSais dLCofdluk ~
military critics here, that the German
general STAFF may be expected to wait
until August ! before making the SUI
preme effort. If the assault were
LAUNCHED before that time II Is believed
1t would lose all momentum by the
middle of August, which would leave
insufficient time for the preparation
of another offensive.
The reports OF the past few days in
dictate that the allies no longer are
forced to await German operations.
For the most part, Germany has dur
ing this year chosen the field OF battle.
II would appear now that her control
Of the battle is passing and that the
allies are successfully hampering her
efforts to reorganize and rest the
troops which must be used in the
lighting for the remainder of the year
Moreover. the British and French are
losing no opportunity to take prisoners
and there can be little doubt that the
allies were never better informed of
the movements and plans of the enemy
than they are today.