The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-03-28
ONE THOUSAND
SQUARE MILES
TERRITORY LOST TO HUNS IN
TIE BIG DRIVE.
BUT COST HAS BEEN ENORMOUS
Estimates To-day Show that $4,000
German Troops Have Been sacri-
feed in the Weeks Fighting.
Sends Greetings to U. S.


Washington. ID. c., March 27.-While
the Allies have lost TO Germany ap-
proximately 1000 square miles of
territory and many men and guns
during the big drive; their losses in
killed and wounded have been as moth
ing compared with the German losses.
Calculations based on the number OF
troops employed and the methods by
which they have been employed, lead
experts today TO estimate the German
losses at approximately $4,000 men
daily since last Thursday. This would
mean German casualties of $4,000 to
date. Originally employing ninety
seven divisions against the British
front from ArTas south, the Germans
apparently alternated these troops in
shock formation, using two-thirds on
the front lines in advance and one
third in reserves in formation behind
the battle lines.
At all times the advance has been
opposed by British troops operating.
for the most part in rear guard form
ations occupying previously selected
points Of vantage and capable of in
flicting. according TO ordinary military
experience, losses of at least five to
one on the enemy
Allies Have Held Advantage.
Occasionally this form of defense
has been varied by the employment Of
troops in sufficient number TO make
a counter-offensiye pending the re-
moval behind them of the major por
ton Of the troops and their supplies
and guns.
These counter-oifensiyes, conducted
against an enemy caught unawares
and unsupported by adequate artillery.
are also declared capable Of inflicting
loss on the enemy of at least two to
one. On the other hand troops en-
gagged in conference.-the work fire.
quently are harder TO disengage hence
the British forces. in such instances.
might easily lose as many men as
their antagonists
Why So Many Guns Are Lost.
s Exralining the loss of 600 guns by
the British. artillery officers today
pointed out that in modern warfare
guns are nearly always lost only when
they are fought to a fnish-that is
operated against the enemy at point
blank range until captured by in
fanuy. In almost every instance of
lost gun. is is firmly believed here,
the British gunners inflicted a heavy
toll of dead.
France Confident of Success.
Washington. d.. c.. March 81
frances confidence that the great
German offensive is wasting it's
strength against the allied line is
voiced in an official dispatch received
from Paris. The message quotes at
length frCm today's Petit Journal TO
show that the Germans though suffer
ing tremendous losses in massed adj
yanees have failed TO obtain their OBJ
jectiyes and that the present situation
is satisfactory TO the allies. The dis.
patch says:
THE French Press continues TO view
with calm confidence the developments
Of the gigantic battle which has been
going on for five days. This confidence
is based upon all the experiences of
this war. Each time that the Germans
have attempted movement against |
the troops in the west the effort after |
certain amount of success always of
a temporary. character has ended in |
being broken against the barrier OF /
the allied armies.
Hun Agents at Work.
London, March 27-German agents
are spreading alarmist reports among
the civil population around the battle
zone in northern France, according to
dispatch from the Reuter- cores
pondent at British headquarters
dated Monday. These persons are be-
ing dealt with summarily when caught.
Concerning the fighting the cores
pondent says:
THE spirit and determination of the
British troops Is excellent. The enemy
losses have been enormous. The stu
alton in many places remains very
confused, which Is natural in fighting
that has assumed more OF the charact-
er Of war movement that at any time
since the dave of the arna