Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07


losses in men killed, wounded. captrl
ed and missing on the western froal
since the German offensive hAeai
March II, are estimated by memher,
OF the British military mbsidn her,
at nearly 260, 1000. !,
In interviews today giving thiss ci
cnlation, members of the British III
sion said everything indicates the Cd
man offensive will be resumed almd
Immediately and that II the ibrunt
the attack is borne again b. the Bril-
ish the situation VIII become seriou,
unless the British troops are suppoYj
ed BY sufficient reseTves.
GERMAN LOoeEs GREATER I
This estimate would appear to Il
IN remarkable contrast to the enol
nous German losses In the dyive. III
German war office, Of course, has n
disclosed what its losses insthe Rres
battle have been, but the estimates q
allied observers have placed the los
OF German life at staggering flgur{
From the very nature Of the flghtin,,
military experts have pointed out, til /
losses OF che attackers were bound Il
be heavier than those Of the defender
But In addition to that the method 4
German attack. advancing troops Il
waves faster than machine guns coul,,
NOW them down, must have entaile}
enormous losses, experts, declare.
WHOLE FORCE ENGAGED.
The situation was summed up II
this manner: +
From the severity Of the flghtinI
and from the fact that the entire COL
Blatant forces Of the British army ha,|
been almost continuously engaged, III
British losses in proportion to fe.i
forcements Immediately available mud
have been heavy. It IL probable thd
one would be approximately accuraM
In estimating these at close on Z qual,
ter Of million
As a sample Of what the BritiH
have gone through It is pointed Il
two divisions which lost a large pes
centage Of their electives. The TweA
ty-fifth, new division. In the flghtinl
between March % and 26, lost 400,
men. Put In the fighting again from
April 10 to April 10. 1t lost 5000 more,
FIGHTS ON DESPITE LOSSES )
Despite these losses 1t was bfigadAd
with the French for counter attach
and still later it beat off four heay,
German attacks. The twenty-firsts d.
vision fought continuously from March
81 to % and lost 1000 infantrymen OF
a total strength of 1900. Later Ii,
drove back q German attack In which
five German divisions were engaged
and increased ats losses to 5000.
BRITAiN's SACRIFICE
Statistics such as these" ono obj
server said today, bring home to thu
military mind The terrible ordeal
through which the British army ID now
passing. History, coolly reviewing
facts, will record what is perhaps OFT
en- now lost sight Of in the crowded IA.
terests of everyday life and obscured
by hearsay and extravagant writings.
Britain at this very moment IL making
the big supreme sacrifice of endurance
for right against might and now,l
by and shoulder to shoul.i
der with the famous French fighting
is prepared to hold the 0etI
man masses In check until the right
arrives for the great re
venge."
WOUNDED FOES IN COAL CARS
Amsterdam, May 4.-Twc hundred
ind sixty-five trains full OF wounded
soldiers returning to Germany from
he battle fronts in Picardy and
flanders, says the Newspaper Les
1ouvelles Of the Hague. were counts
ID in the daytime on April ., II and
2, on the Namur-Liege railway. Thei