The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-01

washington. July 3l,--Dlspatches
resolved here today by allied military
a4tAches picture the armies OF the
Erovn prince employing every device
Il modern and ancient warfare 10
otave of Ranking allied drives when
threaten complete disaster 10 save
his dimming reputation the crown
prince has called to hts aid the
greatest force ever gathered III q re-
stricted aghting area since me war
Opened. To prevent the loss Of huge
stores and guns he has ordered that
loss Of life shall not be considered
d a factor in determining the lines TO
be held.
II is now established that in the
xone known as The Aisne- Marine
salient there are seyenty-two enemy
divisions and That three of them have
bean sent into battle twice. In other
words. the crown prince has used
nearly one-third of the tghing force
Of his fathers empire TO check the
on.rushirig Franco-Arn erican and
British legions. A conservative est-
mate places the number OF German
soldiers thrown into battle at 1850
900. They are opposed by equal, II
not greater. allied numbers.
With armies OF this size at battle
xrtps, army officers here frankly state
that no prediction can be made as TO
tho ultimate significance OF the strus-
ne. General March. chief of staff Of
the American army, today plainly init
mated that opinion of experts is in
clintng 10 the belief that the battle
may become a great struggle OF aXter-
mtnAticn--that each army, forgetting
Ill strategy and ali detectives, viii be
hurled upon the other with the single
purpose OF killing as many men as
their strength and engines Of destruc-
tton permit
No possibility of any great attack
by Germans or the allies upon any
other sector of the western front is
entertained by any Of the prominent
military lecturers and students OF the
war college. All discussions center
upon the line which the Germans viii
oeek to hold and the ability OF the
n1lies to throw in forces strong enough
70 prevent the crown prince from
establishing strongly such a line.
Pitch New German Line.
Although some experts believe that
the Germans will be forced back to
the Aisue, the general opinion now
held. In view of the latest dispatches,
II that the new German line will be
UlL(DGQ &AoIk iiAt al piE AANt's ~
ming northwest. and thence following
the south bank of the Nesle river to
6oissons This line is naturally
strong and offers the best chance for
the reforming of the beaten armies OF
Won Below and Won Boehm,
The receipt of official advices rela-
tive to the strength of the forces
gAthered to save the crown prince dis
closed that from this time on the
greatest problem of the German
nation Is that of man power.
Germany's armed strength In begin
ming to feel the enormous strair
placed by the pressure of the warrior
hoets gathered under the flag of the
ALLIES. One year ago Germany had
TAI. divisions in the field. OF these
thtrty-six were in Russia. Today Ger
many has 2l0 divisions on the western
front, II the italian battle line is not
included In that definition. Austria
had seventy nine divisions last year
Now she has only seventy-seven. hav'
1ng been forced to consolidate some
divisions
Germany's leaders have refused az
long ~ possible to lessen the number
OF divisions, since war is fought to-
day with divisions and not with mum
bors OF men Originally Germany hac
about 1900 men to a division. To
day the number liz near 1900. Tht
time is not far off. according to mill
tary experts, when the German power
viii begin to dwindle and then Ger
many will find herself driven to th'
consolidation of divisions.
Reports received here also show
that the new class of young soldiers
known a. the class of 1891, viii not b.
available to the German army befor'
October ana will number not more
than 100000. once a year there
altar, II lis estimated, Germany car
rain only 100000 men for her tight
1nE ranks unless some great change
y made in the Use of men in the fac
tories and in other pursuits.