Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-02-01
FRANCES STRENGTH.
Can Resist Hun Assaults as Well as
Ever in Past.

p,ssim.stic opinions OF the feeble
ness OF our allies on the western
front. especially France. ana 'helr
INABILITY to withstand heavy German
assaults must be taken with gram
OF salt. They are based upon re-
uurts devised for their own purposes
by GERMAN propagandists. panic I'M
prcss;ons of civilian observers or de-
iibcrate exagerations OF puDiic men
among our associates, designed "
spccnd up our preparations OF eilec'-
i've forces. ,,.,
wc had a detailed statement OF
rrrance's military strength, but from
the information then given By NJ. An
Dire Tardieu, high commissioner OF
france. TO the United States. we may
gain a fair idea Of the poweriul
forces France has in the war zone.
The information was published al
the time By Secretary OF war BAKER.
In August, 1917. France had over
3 OvO. 900 men in the zone OF the
armies. at least u million more than
AT the beginning Of the war. ms
does not include the men IN the IN
terror and the colonies. The reserves
not in the battle zone made IL GER
tain that this number could De rnaih-
tanned for long war.
since the percentage Of casualties
which in the first six months reached
5.Il was reduced to 1.26 at the CLOSE
of 1916. and has been since brought
to lower figures, with normal acces-
sions to the ranks, we may conciude
that France has practically a war
force for the front Of about 3.00o,ooo
men.
In August, 1914. France had about
200 guns grouped in regiments. In
June. 1917. her armies had 5000 ana
France had supplied her allies with
500 guns. She rc-equipped and arm
ed the Belgian. SerTian ana Greek
armies.
900 shells a day for 15s. her supply
rose in August. 1917. to 250.OOO Tor
75s and 100. 900 for heavy guns. Her
monthly expenditure for all gun sizes
was 12.O00.000 shells.
French resources and French
thrift have been equal to the hnan-
cial drain Of the war. Her INDUS
tries have been kept going with re-
markable success considering con-
ditions. and her output Of war sup
plies and munitions has steadily IN
creased.
We have recently had an official
statement that Great Britain not IN,
Guiding her colonies. had recruited
6,5O0.000 men and was preparing 10
recruit 100000 more.
1t is foolish to say that France mas
not lost more men than the nation
can snare and that her man power
has not been cruelty reduced. but II
is no less foolish to say that she
lacks the man power and the gun
power to Withstand German assaults
as heavy as any she has withstood IN
the past With Britain's improved
forces and resources and with ltalys
recovered stamina our allies un-
doubtedly can hold their lines II not
beat the enemy this year.
In showing that France is not
feeble we do not mean to say that
she can maintain successful warfare
against powerful forces indefinitely.
nor that the United States should not
speed preparations to put effective
forces in the field. Our strength is
needed at the earliest possible mo-
ment to support the hard fighting
forces Of France and Britain and
italy and to supply the superiority
necessary to assure early victory.
A just view of French strength and
resources does not in any degree d.
minish the necessity and the obliga-
ton resting upon US to intensity our
efforts to become quickly potent
end deciding factor In the field.
What France, Britain and Italy have
done and are doing under tremen-
dous strain should stimulate US to
intense endeavor to do OUR part and
to end the destructive eonflict-St-
Louis Post Dispatch.