The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-10-04

Endless Stream Of First-C Glass Fight
Ino Men From America on Western
] Front-tiistory Of = Division In Ger
man Army Traced.
The question of electives today
holds the first place in the general dis
cussion of the war. 1t has become par
ticularly alarming for the central pow
ers. since, it has been shown, they
have nothing to oppose to the fresh
masses of American troops which ar
rive each day. To make up the ines
Unable difference they can only ask
for greater efforts from the units that
are still intact and employ all sorts
OF expedients to flll the gaps made by
their terrific losses.
How can these great losses be &C
counted for and what were the contrib
| uting factors in the systematic wear
ing away Of the great German divi-
sionsf Apart from tn highly efficient
Intelligence bureaus Of the allied gen.
eral staff, Swiss sources offer the next
best opportunity for learning facts
about the German army which are
generally not published. From one OF
these sources was traced the history
since the beginning of the year of one
Of the famous German divisions, the
One Hundred and Ninety-seventh. This
brief history may be taken as an ex-
ample Of the overwork to which the
German troops are subjected and al
low us to form an estimate of their
losses.
One Division Traced.
Formed in June, 1916, this division
remained on the eastern front till Feb
ruary, 1918. After losing many Of its
best soldiers the division was brought
to the western front shortly before the
beginning of the March offensive with
out being in any way REINFORCED, GER
tain of it's regiments containing COM
panies of only 100 men. In May it &C.
cupied section Of the Chemin des
Danes sector, there representing that
type of division which the Germans
call "front divisions"
It's participation in the attack of
May 20 has been clearly traced; dur
ing the night of the 20th it sent out
numerous patrols to protect the work
of constructing bridges over the ALL
cite and at the same time to be within
useful distance to participate in the
attack on the Chemin des Danes. The
storming divisions then replaced it at
the moment when the artillery prep
aratiOn began.
In the evening Of the 9th the divi-
sion returned to Grandelain, north of
the Ailette, which it left again the
next day for the Vesle in conformity
with the movement Of the troops which |
preceded it. On the evening Of the |
28th it was at Vauxhertin, and arrived |
at Cerseuil during the night. From
that moment, on account of the extern
sion of the divisions which preceded
1t, it began to send units into the first
line to fill in the gaps. On the 10Th
1t was at Joumignes and on the 30th
ut Bruyeres.
June 1 found the entire division in
the lines relieving tired troops; in fact,
It had entered the battle. 1t attacked
at BONES. then marched to Bussiares,
where it encountered French and
American troops and underwent cruel
osses 1t was there, to the south Of
Chevy, that this division met the Amer
cans, to whom 1t yielded Veuilly and
Bussiares.
Lost one-ThIrd Of Electives.
Since the One Hundred and Ninety
seventh divisions entry into the battle
N June l its losses have been very
leavy, and are estimated at about
bird of the electives Of June and
o per cent of those Of June 5.
Such system Of wear and tear en-
'loyed for such long period has
yrought havoc In the ranks of the Ger
ian army. The electives have suf- ,
cred heavily and every possible means ]
as been employed to obtain combat
hts with which to fill in the ranks. {
he anticipated calling up of the
oungest classes took place some time
go, almost at the outset of the Of
ensive. The Germans have already /
snt to the front the greatest part Of |
lie 1919 class. {
According to the official bulletin of Z
he Fourth German army, issued last 5
ay, in order to augment the depleted
visions it has been found necessary |
employ men of the auxiliary services
the fighting ranks. 1t has also been C
tablished that all Germans drafted
1t are replaced by men of the aux
airy services h
There is still another method which c.
e Germans finally resorted to. They s
We had to break up and dissolve N
hole regiments and, being unable to re
organize the units which had suf- T.
red too heavy losses and to re-en- A
rec those that were still Of some OF
lue, they decided on the fusion of 81
regiments.
It has been said that the strongest
lis would crack if in order to fill
its holes and crevices other holes Ka