The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-18
HUGE LOSSES OF
B0CHES IN DRIVE
NOW A CERTAINTY
One Division Lost 20 Per Cent
of Its Electives.
Several Others Lost Over so
Per Cent of Number.
UNITS SERIOUSLY CRIPPLED
Complete Overhauling and Re-
organization Required.
Heavy Artillery and Aerial
Fighting Reported.
Several Others Lost Over SO
Per Cent of Number. -
UNITS SERIOUSLY CRIPPLED
Heavy Artillery and Aerial
Fighting Reported.

(By the Associated Press.)
sLondon, May 18.-The most definite
figures yet announced regarding Ger
man losses on the western front TINS
spring have been given to the Asso.
cfated Press. Since the beginning or
the offensive March 81, two hundred
and six German divisions have been
on the western front. of which 126
actually have been engaged on the
Somme and Armentieres fronts.
The 208th German division winch
was one of those suffering most
heavily lost 70 per cent of its effec-
tive Seven other German divisions
are known to have lost more than
fifty per cent and at least seven other
divisions are named as having lost
forty to fifty per cent
Only forty men to the company
were left in the 18th division after
the fighting of March % and 3D. The
first division was in similar straits
March %, and the 234th division was
weakened similarly April g. one
regiment of the fourth Ersatz divi-
sion virtually was annihilated on
April and there are scores OF in
stances of companies and battanons
which disappeared almost completely.
Units Seriously Crippled.
In five page, closely typewriter
list of losses to German regiments
and divisions engaged in the offensive
which have been substantiated by
British intelligence officers there IS
scarcely a single instance where me
losses were not SO large as to cause
serious Gripping of the efficiency of
the unit.
While it is impossible to make from
these figures any estimate OF the totai
ground losses il is sufficiently evident
that the enemy casualties have been
cxtreemly heavy. One evidence of this
fact is that the Germans are calling
upon all available reserve depots IN
the western area and have already
been compelled to draft into crippled
divisions men drawn from Germany
itself. Including those of the 1920
class From this it may be concluded
that the demand for men to replace
losses has been greater than reserves
could supply.
London. May 1S.-Heavy artillery
fighting last night between Gfvenchy
and Robecq on the southern side OF
the Flanders salient is reported by
the war office.
Paris Reports Heavy Gunfire.
Paris May 1S.-Violent artillery
fighting north and south of the Avre
river on the front below Amiens is
reported in todays official statement
Fair weather during the last few
days and a great increase in aerlai
activity have not yet resulted in a
The artillery duels go on most vio-
IeDtly on important sectors, but Meth
or the German infantry or artillery
Displays the activity which usually
marks me coming of blow against
the allied lines.
n preparing for a mighty attack.
greater i'll force. if possible than the
smash on March 81 along the fifty
mile front southwark from Arras. The
Germans, however, are having diff
entity in filling up their greatly de-
riseted ranks, some divisions having
lost mora than so per cent-one 70
lser cent-of their electives in the
recent fighting. In addition the allied
artillery is causing havoc with Ger
man preparations near the front lines,
while their railway stations and bill
lets behind tho lines are under an al
most continuous rain of bombs drop
ned by allied airmen.
Enemy artillery and manpower con-
centrations probably become stronger
az Field Marshal Won Hindenburg de-
laws new advance, but the allied de-
lenses gain strength in the same ratio
and a new source of fighting power,
tie American army, grows in power.
General Pershing's men are now on
both the important battle fronts
Flanders and Picardy-but in what
numbers is not disclosed. Their COM
ing however, is having a great moral
effect on the British and French and
the longer the Germans delay the
T. Greater will the American aid become.
fAerial activity is the most promi-
Ilent feature of the news from the
Fighting zones. French and British
abr men have dropped many tons OF
Explosives on enemy military targets
while the Germans are becoming more
active in attempts to get behind the
allied lines. In aerial fighting the
Hritish have brought down thirty- five
German machines while British guns
aecounted for ten more. Berlin claims
the destruction of eighteen allied air
Names.
%Another attempt to raid Paris Fri
day night failed. On the American
sectors west of Mont Didier, northwest
of Toul and in Lorraine the aerial
fighting also has increased. The
american positions in Picardy and in
lorraine are being bombarded heavily
by the Germans. The artillery fire
has fallen off in the Toul sector but
American patrols are active there.