Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-25
Huns Throw Added Reserves
Into Battle in Effort to
Check Advance of French
and Americans
LUDENDORFF PLANS
COMPREHENSIVE
DETECTION of Russia Gives the
Central Powers 210 Divis-
ions on Western Front; 40
Divisions West of Rheims

Paris, July 25.-More reserves
are being thrown into the bttle by
the Germans, according to the latest
advices reaching Paris, but these
were unable to prevent the allies
from making appreciable gains on
Wednesday. The important point
of Oulchy-le-C Chateau slowly but
surely is being surrounded. If the
Germans lose it, it will be impossi-
BILE for them to hang on to Fede-en-
| Tardenois.
Military observers here are con-
vinced that General Ludendorff
shortly will launch counter-offen-
, sive. His objects will be-first, to
clean the front between scissors
| and Rheims; second, to lessen the
, demoralizing effect of a projected
: retreat to the Vesle, and, third, to
| have Germany regain the initiative.
| Parries For Further Blow
Consequently, it is to his interest
to prolong the present battle as long
as possible, even at the expense of
his treasured reserves, so as to keep
| the French occupied and give him
time to prepare another blow.
Owing to the detection of the
| Russians from the allies, the Ger
| mans have been able to place 21O
divisions on the western front this
| year. From January IA July "a,
| just over six months, these divisions
have been engaged about 430 times,
so that each has been thrown into
battle at least twice during the half
year.
| frequent, this proportion is rapidly
| increasing.
40 Hun Divisions at Thierry
When the present battle began
the Germans had twenty-eight divi-
fsions on that portion of the field
westward from Rheims as far as
Chateau Thierry. Now the front
has been widened by the allied at
! tack from the latter city to the
Aisne and the Germans have hur-
ried more forces into the line,
| bringing the total now engaged on
this part of the front to over forty
and placing a considerable strain
upon the ehemy's reserves.
They still have reserve divisions
concentrated at some places behind
their lines, but many units COM
prised by these divisions have been
sorely tried already this year and
it is unquestionable whether they
are all sufficiently recuperated to
| participate in a new attack, should
the German staff decide to ordar
one to retrieve the defeat of the
Crown Prince.
Use Up Divisions
Greater efforts than ever before
have been exacted this year by Ger
man army chiefs from the troops
under their command. Com pared
even with last year, when the fight
ing was very severe, all their divi-
sions have been called upon to make
at least double effort. The CORES
pondent is able to demonstrate the
terrific nature of the task thrown
upon the German soldiers by the
German emperor to crush the French
and British armies before American
troops arrived in sufficient numbers
to turn the balance.
During last year the Germans pos
sessed on their western front be-
tween $50 and 10 divisions. The
most of these were engaged twice.
and some three times. during the en-
tire twelve months, having in the
meantime been reconstructed.
Verdun used up from 20 divisions;
the Aisne and Chemin des Danes
fighting, 80; Flanders, 1870; Cambrai.
20, and minor operations, 80. max
ing altogether $40 divisional engage
ments.