Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-25


France, July %, (By the AssO-
ciated PreSS).-Greater efforts
than ever before have been eX-
acted this year by German
army chiefs from the troops un-
der their command. Compared
with last year when the fight
ing was very severe, all their
divisions have been called upon
to make at least double effort
During last year the Germans
possessed on their western front
between $50 and 10 divisions. The
most of these were engaged twice
and some three times during the
entire IL months, having in the
meantime been reconstructed.
Verdun used up from 20 divi-
sions, the SOmme %, the Aisne and
Chemin Des Danes fighting, 80;
Flanders, 130; Cambria, 25, and
minor operations, 80, making alto
gether $40 divisional engagements.
Had 21O Divisions.
Owing to the detection of the
Russians from the allies the Ger
mans have been able to place 2lO
divisions on the western front this
year. From January to July "a, a
little more than six months, tfrese
divisions have been engaged about
43O times, so that each has been
thrown into battle at least twice
tions becoming more frequent this
proportion is rapidly increasing.
When the present battle began,
the Germans had % divisions on
that portion of the field westward
from Reims as far as Chateau
Thierry. Now the front has been
widened by the allied attack from
the latter city to the Aisne and the
Germans have hurried more forces
into the line, bringing the total now
engaged on this front to over forty
and placing a considerable strain
upon the enemy's reserves.
Troops Worn Out.
They still have reserve divisions
concentrated at some places behind
their lines, but many units COM
prised of these divisions have been
sorely tried this year and 1t Is
questionable whether they are all
sufficiently recuperated to partlc1-
pate in a new attack should the
German staff decide to order one to
retrieve the defeat of the crown
prince.
Rupprecht Sends Help.
London, July 25.-Nine divisions
of reserves from the army Of
Crown Prince Rupprecht of Ba-
varia and a division from the east
ernd end of the line have been
rushed to the aid of the German
crown prince between scissors and
Reims, but, says Reuters cores
pondent with the American troops
in France, the Germans may well
hesitate to push more troops into
the already crowded salient, see
ing the difficulty they have OF
feeding those already there.
The reports show that the Ger
man high command has thus far
engaged 64 divisions in the battle
of groups OF the
German armies from Flanders TO
Alsace. The 64 divisions are near
ly third of the available German
army.
The conclusion is drawn that the
enemy is being hard put TO it for
reserves although Crown Prince
of Bavaria on the north
ern front has plenty of reserve di-
visions.
Man-power on Downward Curve.
In authoritative circles here the
view is expressed that Germany
has reached what might be called
the downward curve in her man
( over. This applies TO Prince
army as well as to the
rest of the German army and it ex-
plains why Prince Rupprecht is
not inclined TO take the offensive.
This drop in German manpower
here is not a sudden occurrence.
1t has been known to the allied
military authorities for some time.
The infantry units have been
weakened by the withdrawal Of
storm troops and by heavy losses.