The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-04-11
ENEMY Losses.
ARE ENORMOUS
CLASHES OF MARCH 80 AND APRIL
4 EXTREMELY COSTLY
GERMANS USED 81 DIVISIONS
Slaughter is Indicated by the Destruc-
ton of One Regiment of 1000
Men Who Retired From the
Fight With Eighty.one


With the American Army in France
April 9.-An American officer who has
just returned from the battlefelds OF
northern France, where he has been
virtually since the beginning of the
German offensive, estimates that thus
far the Germans have lost at least
100000 men in killed, wounded and
missing. This officer formerly was in
the British army and is familiar with
all the conditions.
Deadly Enemy Losses.
Paris, France, April 9.--All avail
able information tends to confirm the
statement that the enemy's losses in
the battles OF March 80 and April 4
were the deadliest yet experienced.
I'he I'd battalion of the nth German
infantry, which entered the action in
the morning 1000 strong, counted eigh-
ty-one men by noon. One. battalion of
a reserve division of the PIussian
guard had only eighty survivors.
The allies fought until their amuni-
ton was exhausted then met the foe
with bayonets. while dismounted cav.
alrymen welded their sabers with
grim effect. Both French and British
superior officers more than once were
seen in the excitement of the battle
snatch up rifles themselves and begin
firing into the enemy's crowded ranks.
Aviators Charge Like Cavalry.
Allies ayiators flying few yards
above the battle field in pouring rain
harassed the advancing battalions con-
tinually with machine guns, charging
and wheeling as did cavalry in days
of old, and spreading panic among the
German artillerists, whose fire was
wild The day after the battle the val
liant defenders had the satisfaction Of
seeing the ground literally strewn
with German corpses.
The region of Grivesnes was typical
Imagine under cloudy drizzling sky
great green, slightly rolling plain
lined with hedges. tufted with bios
somlng fruit trees and the smoke of
burstr, shells and smoldering farms.
AIY roads in the bitches under
hed.us beside farm walls, under the
fruit trees and everywhere may now
be seen small, gray splotches, some in
crowded heaps and some scattered
They are German corpses. What is
worst there are many wounded among
AK,h. whom it is impossible to pick
(,r1and who are slowly dying.
- Germans Use 81 Divisions.
-,7 II is estimated that ninety-seven di
visions of Germans thus far have been
engaged. Hindenburg is now showing
n disposition to economic his reserv-
es. His great project Of ending the war
with one great smash has failed. He
can no longer afford to squander men
with former recklessness He knows
the day is approaching when the allies
will make a counter stroke and he
wants to be able to meet it when it
comes,
Three-fourths Of his reserves al
ready have been under fire. Instead OF
engaging the REMAINDER he seems 10
be keeping them fresh and replacing
the worn division with others taken
from quiet sectors Of the front. Like
Verdun and like tine Somme, the battle
will undoubtedly continue with heavy
blows, now here, now there, The Ger.
mans ever seeking to enlarge The hole
dug in the allied front and work their
way TO the coveted objective Amiens,
German military critics hint mys-
teriously at possible German attack
ri some other point on the front, out
personally / am of the opinion that
tbe Germans will continue on the same
front. striking row against the British
and now against the French in trying
70 shoulder their way toward Amiens
disappointment in Germany.
The disappointment of Germany at
the check to the offensive which was
RI end the war is considerable. One
Breslac newspapers even says that
Con Focsh can be compared fayorably
~ the greatest German generals,
Certainly the skill and rapidify with
which the French troops were trans
norted during the critical days in DE.
serving Of the highest praise. me
canton service piled on all the ROADS
day and night without a single hitch.
The routing had to be done long be
fore to meet every possible contingent
CIV. The chauffeurs drove night ana
day until they dropped from the seats
Even more important was the work
of the railways, which also ready IN
advance for any emergency the INES
usedbs the Germans descend laniike
from Bolgiunli into France, giving q
considerable advantage over tne
French whose roads parallel the front
and require transport for greater dis
tances.
French Transportation Triumph.
The French roads were used 70 theii
absolute maximum, the equipment De
ing supplemented by material borrow
I'd from lines not Immediately concern
ed. The railway men all worked WITH
the greatest good humor for several
DAYS without sleep, carrying men