Evening star., 1918-06-16
Three Factors Give Temporary Ad-
vantage to Germans-Gen. March
i Gives Review Of Operations.

SooheAy niAloIy program COnLem-
plates 100000 men under arms by Au-
gust l, much interest was displayed in
Washington last night over this ques-
tion:
When will the allied man power in
France be substantially superior to
that Of the Germansf
Admits Enemy Man Power Greater
There has been some hesitation
about admitting that at present the
numerical strength Of Germany is
superior to the allied forces, but
President Wilson frankly made the
admission in his message to Presi-
dent Poincare. made public yesterday,
in these words:
1T is their (the American people's)
fixed and unalterable purpose to send
men and materials in steady and in
creasing volume. until any temporary
inequality OF force is entirely over
come and the forces Of freedom made
overwhelming"
Statement Confusing to Some.
Now, this statement of a tempo
rary shortage of man power is apt
to be confusing to. the citizen who
recalls that on March II, before the
start OF thAz hrst German drive, the
allies outnumberAd the Germans, and
that since then. as nearly as estl-
mates can be made the enemy and
allied Sfosses have heeH equal. while
Amertcan, Italian, ana presumably
British. .4<rxtnforcements have been
pouring into France
The answer,~ Military tmen explain.
Is simple 1T fssth1S sbscatlse of the
present conformation OF the hGhtin1
lines ID France the afifes must nave
= dscided nninefieI snperiority in
an equality in force. OF course. ques-
tions Of equipment. munitions and
supplies are not taken into account
in eisse considefati6n. 1s@s 60
Must Be 9 to to "overwhelm."
Some omcers in washingto yes
terday estimated that the allies
would have to outnumber the Ger
mans by 2 to / before having an
advantage that would approach the
overwhelming" On the other hand,
It was stated that q % per. cent, or. at
most. a 20 per cent, numerical ad-
vantage on the part Of the Germans
would place them in q position Of de-
cided military superiority.
against the allies. arises from several
reasons The principal one. which
has been commented upon frequently,
Ii that the Germans are in the midst
Of Q semi-circle, and that 50 long as
they hold the initiative they may
strike from the center at points
which, to be defended. must be reach
ed by the allied reinforcements by
travelling outside the rim of this
oemi-circle.
Universal Training Aids Huns.
Another strength of Germany lies
in the fact that its system Of uni
vsrsal military training has given It
reserves from which 1t may draw men
ready for almost immediate service
when emergencies arise, while to get
more fighting men Great Britain and
the United States. though not France,
must subject men to considerable
periods Of training.
A third element Of the German ad-
vantage lies In the power Of the Ger
man general stan to summon any
number of men. from any Of the CEN
trail powers, at any time. Elements
OF home defense. in the case Of Great
Britain and Italy. and Of transporta-
tion. in the case Of the United States
are factors which might discount Gen.
Foch.s request for reinfofeements in
a sudden emergency.
Work Of Rush1hg Men to Front.
To bring the allied army In France
to a condition where It will be able
to exert the force which President
Wilson describes. al Overwhelming
the United states 10 ., major factor.
foncA ~ -vafffn - a 80.
the front is more and more pre-
eminent"
Not because the United States 10
afraid Of doing more than her share,
but because the war now is q
msex raee af.inss :: :s..,n. time. in Thich Ger
tory before the allied forces can
reach the overwhelming stage. IL
70 recognised that not only the
United States. but every allied source
OF man power must be drawn
upon quickly and to the fullest ex-
Great Britain Is furnishing men to
her fullest capacity. though the de-
tails Of those replenishments have been
withheld for military reasons. Italy
has sent more than 100000 men to
the western front ana In ready ia
send more. so far as the pressure OF
the Austrian offensive, which started
yesterday. will permit.
English Rsinforcements.
In response to q question abou,
what England was doing in the rein
forcement process. Gen. March made
the frst ofiicial intimation of her &C.
tivity, in this statement, which wa,
considered highly significant:
The matter OF the number Of troop,
on the western front 10 q question
that must be considered with refer.
ence not only to the divisions which
have been known to be there All
along. but with the potential increaee
which might be attained by brinEin ?
dtvteions from the eastern front"
Gen. March further stated:
TT IL impossible to predict 4 day-
aay . month ahead or any othar dan |.
mite time-when . mastering superb
ority viii b in the hands Of the
Locking Forward to Superiority.
But In his tacit recognition tha,
such . time will come Gen. March
only reflected the feeling Of all Army
officers here. That 10 why, hard as Il
10 for the layman to believe at times
the spring operations on the west.
efn front have meant q virtual vic.
terry. to date, for the allies.
The Germans have gained ground
but they have suffered SnorYnoui
loaDse; they have bsttsrsd their post
tton sln point Of terrain. but every
woke delay has meant moro than q
oompAn natinR repletion of the al1ied