Evening journal., 1918-09-12
AWFUL LOSS CAUSE
OF GERMAN RETREAT
Cost of Offensive This Year
is Estimated at 300.-
900 Men
GREATEST TEST
ABOUT TO COME

WASHINGTON, sept. i2-Behind thl
apparent lull in the battle in France
events are swiftly shaping for opera
tions Of crucial Importance, in th'
opinion OF officials here, who are keep
Ing in hour-tO-hour touch with de.
velopments. These observers believe
one week will see either the greatest
battle of the war in progress alons
the old Hindenburg line, or the enemy
AGAIN in fun retreat toward The Bel.
gian frontier, refusing TO meet Marsha
Foch's forces.
There is the evidence that the Ger
man high command may plan a further
extensive Withdrawal in order 20 short
eun its defensive lines and east The
strain upon GermanN's waning man
power. There Is little doubt that il
was lack Of fighting effectiveness that
forced the enemy TO abandon all ne
had gained In his drive Of this year
and narrow his front. Unofficial esti-
mates from France say the Germans
have left behind them during the with
drawal more than 100000 prime fight
ing men. killed. badly wounded or pris-
oners. This is in addition 10 the heavy
losses In the frontal attacks by which
the enemy early ia The summer drove
his way toward Paris and the Channel
ports.
With such losses as these draining
the ranks end with American troops
pouring into France at the rate OF 200,-
600 a month II would not surprise Of
flcers here II The German leaders have
been compelled TO decide upon much
shorter front than the old Hindenburg
line as one which would offer any
hope Of staying The Allies onward
march
Haig's men have firm hold astride
The line between DOuai and Cambria,
md observers believe 10 will be little
hort of a miracle If the enemy out OF
lhe confusion unavoidable in his swift
retreat can organize a defense for Dou-
al, Cambria, st. Quentin or La Fere,
which can resist successfully the full
weight OF the Allied armies.
II these towns fall The Hindenburg
line goes with them, probably along
the whole length, IL Is said. Foot by
foot the French have forced their way
around the northern side Of la Fere
while to the south French and Amerl-
AN troops have clung 10 their hold
On the heights above NauXvillion
against counter attacks. Another mile
Of advance mere and just TO the south
VIII put General Mangin's men actual
~ on the northern end Of the Chemin
des Danes, the ridge that guards LaOn.
Omcial dispatches received from
France today said orders have been is
sued by the German command to get
wounded men back into the ranks even
before complete cures have been effect
ed 90 employ at once German prison
ers reIased by the Russians, even
though thy had not fully recovered
their strength and health, and to turn
cavalry into infantry 10 MI gaps in
the ranks.
Other orders. the dispatches said, di-
rect That al certain intervals in quiet
sectors an Austro-Hungarian division
be pl3ced between two German divi-
SONS or that Austrian soldiers be dis
irbuled o. German regiments in a Iro-
portion of sixty 10 a company in or
der TO make up the full strength Of
about 2J0 mel.
The adyices say the reduction OF the
battalion strength 10 three companies
instead Of four, put into effect in at
least eight enemy divisions. was largely
for the purpose of making good losses
in company and non-cOmmissioner Of
flcers.