Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-07-24
ALLIES TO HAVE MORE THAN
THREE HUNDRED
DIVISIONS.
Bv Frank hi. Simonds.

mllllOn Hdu dTTlN6u Ill EUROPE SIlTTGu
the American people profoundly, as it
should have moved them. 1t is to the
military side of Americas contribu-
ton that most minds will turn at
this moment. What will 1000 900 Am
erican soldiers mean at this crisis in
the war? We are told by the wal de-
partment that of the million some 68
per cent may be counted as fighting
men, and this would mean 692, 900
men. Add to this total the number
sent in the two weeks that have pass
ed since the announcement was made
and we may safely estimate that there
are in France 750, 900 Americans ready
or destined soon to be ready to ap-
pear in the fighting line.
Now, Of this $50, 900, q third, approx
imately 250, 900, have been organized
into the first American army, and this
army may be reckoned as represent
ing a really formidable force since it
includes all the troops which have
been longest in France and is COM
manded by those of our officers who
have had the best training and the
most experience.
Many Also in Training.
We have, then, given the allies one
army, WHICH,, IL SIlIl luLSI1OT 10 C10
best of the British and French armies,
is a resource of great Importance. In
addition, we may reckon upon another
force, equally strong, scattered along
the front in British and French units,
getting its training on the firing line.
There remain 10000 troops which
are still lacking in the necessary
training in France. But experience
has already shown in France that a
month after they land our American
troops can be sent to the front. Thus
it is not too much to say that by the
middle of August we shall have two
armies of $50, 900 each on the line.
And by the middle of September we
shall have three. This is the way we
must reckon the availability of our
overseas forces in the next two
months.
No allied report has placed more
than 206 German divisions on the
western front up to the present no.
ment, although there have been cred
ible reports that before the campaign
was over at least 225 would appear.
German divisions are now reckOned
at IL 1000 men, and 206 divisions would
thus mean around $500, 900 men. Add
another $50, 900 for those that are to
come, possibly, and the strength of
the German thrusting power for the
present campaign would be 2,750, 900
men; but no more than $500, 900 have
yet been accounted for, and not all of
these, by any means, have been n
gagged in the several offensives.
How Forces Line Up.
We have &c., 900 British and Colon
ials-I am certain, as a matter of
fact, that the total was nearer 1,000,-
O00-1,2 $50 900 French and something
more than 10000 Belgians and Port
ugese-in all 1850 900 allied troops,
against $500, 900 Germans in line or
in reserve and some $50, 900 more
probably marked for ultimate use on
the western front. On March 81 the
Germans could not have a more
than $500, 900 on the western front
and the allies certainly not less than
1850, 900.
This would mean that the immediate
disparity in numbers was not above
250 5000 at the most, and probably not
more than 80, 900. Our forty divi-
sions added to the divisions of our
allies give a total strength of between
22S and 236 divisions, against the
Germans 225. But we have also the
numerical equivalent of another 20
German divisions already in France
and getting their first training, all
of whom can go on the line ONE
where by the middle of August. When
they get on the line the allied total
will stand between 24S and 256 di-
visions as against 225 for our Ger
man foes.
We have already sent to France
enough organized units to restore and
more than restore the balance be-
tween the enemy and our allies, when
all of our units are ready; and all of
our units will be ready to do
thing within the mex month and to
do considerable before the middle of
September, while from four to six
weeks will remain for campaigning.
1t may be that our first forty divi-
sions have already evened things up;
certainly they would have if the Ger
mans are still but 206 divisions strong,
as they were last March, accepting
for the base of calculation the lowest
conceivable estimate of allied divi-
sions. But, allowing for everything,
it seems fair to say that by the middle
of August America will have met the
demand made upon her to turn the
tlue n supply the numbers to c0un-
terbalance the advantage accruing to
the Germans through the Russian col
lapse and the consequent transfer
Of German divisions to the western
front.
Allies to Have Advantage.
BY the middle of August the Ger
mans will no longer have any advan-
tage of numbers on the west front:
they may not have it by August 1.
And with the loss of this advantage
goes the hope of winning the war. if
it be won before that time. For it is
apparent that Germany has no new
reservoir from which to draw other
divisions as she drew divisions from
Russia.
The truth is that Hindenburg and
L~udendorff went to the bottom of the
German barrel last spring and last
winter. They gathered up all that
was left, they borrowed for the future
to meet present needs and opportun-
tiles, they took their gamble and they