New-York tribune., 1918-04-15
Britain SavlngH HerMan-P over
FOR Great Counter Offensive
correspondent OF The Daily News Estimates 2,7000 900
RESERVES Are Trained and Ready To Be Thrown
Into Battle in France
By P. w. Wilson

'Ame71con Correspondent OF The Dni1y Nems1
nave discussed the battle of Picardy
with scores of Americans, and a dozen
e'"es day | am asked to explain the
mystery OF man power on the Western
front. Where are the British and
french reserves? Where is the Armv
of Maneuvre?
In the British Empire. 1000 900 able
bodied men, most of them young men,
have been enrolled for military service.
That number is more than the entire
population of New York.
These 100000 men have suffered
over 100000 casualties. One-third,
or 100000 at least, of these casualties
are dead or missing, and this means
that Britain has buried more men
than, at present. America has trans
ported to Europe, though the compari-
son is rapidly becoming obsolete.
France has buried more men than
Britain, while Russia has buried more
men than France, Britain and Italy put
together.
Subtracting 100000 dead and missing
from the 100000 British casualties,
we are left with 100000 wounded. /
Will assume that 800, 900 of these have
been discharged from hospitals and
that % per cent Of them remain in the
army. This means that 100000 are
pack IN civil life. The balance of 5OO,-
600 wounded are still under treatment.
which means that the loss of electives
through wounds would be 100000 in
ali. Add this to the 100000 dead and
missing, and you have loss through
casualties of 100000 up to date.
British Army in France
Estimated at 100000
1t is probable that 100000 men have
been returned to essential industries.
Adding this figure to the above 1,4OO.-
ooo we arrive at 100000 to be subtract
ed from 100000. This leaves 5.4OO.-
600 men to be accounted for.
We will allow per cent for sick
ness. or 100000, at any given time,
which brings us to 5,13O,oO0. Of these
shall reckon that the forces in Meso-
potamla, Palestine, Africa, Salonica and
Italy, with reserves, absorb 100000
men, bringing down the army of the
Western front to 100000 men.
Early in 1916 our War Office aimed
at recruiting of $4,000 week, or
A'c0O,ooO d ycdT Will assume that
we have not enlisted more than 3OO,-
900 men in the last six months. These
men are still in training, or ought to
be, and 1T is only pressure of events
that rushes four-month recruits into
the trenches. Let US allow 100000 men
for training. reducing the active forces
from 100000 to 3,7OO,0OO
Britain holds more than 100 miles
of Western front. Two years ago an
average of 5000 men per mile might
have been sufficient for the purpose ::
IN Russia the allowance was 5000 men.
To-day Germany concentrates her en-
tire available force against the British
line. An average defensive provision
of 10000 men per mile must be Sc
cured, or 100000 men, to hold the
trenches. Take 100000 from 3,7OO,-
600 and 100000 men remain. It is a
large number.
Many Soldiers Too Old
To Enter Firing Lines
Many of these men are we'll over
forty years old and must be classed as
combatants. Moreover, this battle
is not over in day. Since March 21
it has lasted fully three weeks The
fighting season for 1918 will include at
least 200 days. Nobody outside official
circles knows what this fighting is cost
ing US each day Obviously, the pub
lished return of 5000 British casualties
for q week is camOuflape and | do not