Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-05-04
BRITISH |I]|'I|'I||IS|'lH| LOSSES J
IN DRIVE ARE
10000 MEN
Situation May Become seri-
GUS Unless Sufficient Re-
serves Are Put In.

FWaShtngtoD. May 4,-BrltiAh loss
% In men killed, voQnAed, captured
and missing on the weststn front
March ra 81, are ar estimatsa s. Ii. Brit
ish military here at nearly 16o.oo0.,
In a statement today Giviug this
calculation, the mission paid every
thing indicates the offensive will be
continued almost Immediately and
that if the brunt Of the attack Is horns
again by the British the situAtinn will
bscotne serious unless the British
troops are sunportad BY sufacient re-
serveA >
This estimate would appear to be
in remarkable contrast to the enorm-
Gus German losses in the drive. The
German var once has not disclosed
estimates Of allied observers have
placed the loss Of German life at a
staggering figure. From the very
nature Of the hghting, military ex-
sperts have pointed out, the losses Of
the attackers we're bound to be
heavier than those Of the defenders.
But in. addition to that. the methed'
Of Gepnan attack, advancing troaPs
In waves faster than machine gSSis
entaileA enormous losses.
|- y s01kA0eAO1l "00 0OlI1kACu up 41
this manner:
are emphasized by the German wire
less. Although figures from German
sources would be undoubtedly much
exaggerated. yet It il certain from
the tact that the entire combatant
f~orcsAtef the British army have been
almost continuously engaged that the
RfittahI losses in proportion to rein-
forcernents Immediately available
must be very heavy. It is probable
curate in quoting these as close on a
quarter Of q million.
Everything points to the German
offensive being continued almost i'm
mediately and should the brunt Of the
attack again have to be borne by the
British the situation will be undoubt-
eddy serious unless sufficient troops
are available close at hand in reserve
to strengthen the line az required and
whe have been in the line almost
consistently since the beginning Of
the. present battle"
AS examples Of what the British
have gone through, the statement
cites two divisions which lost a large
percentage Of their electives. The
T~wenty-ffth, a new division. in the
HSNtlM8. Mdrcn u ana ~ lost
1000 men. Put in the fighting again
from April 10 to April -, it lost 81
900 more..
Despite these lossas 1t was brigaded
with the French for a counter attack
and still, later 1t beat off four, heavy
German attacks. ~ :,
The T~wenty-drBt division fought
continuously from March 81 to March
%. and lost 1900 in~fantrymen Of a
total strength Of 5000. Later it drove
back a. German attack in which five
German divisions were engaged and
increased its losses to 5000.
Statistics such as these & said. the
statement, ''bring home 10 the mill
tafy mind the terrible ordeal through
which the British army is now pass
ing. History coolly reviewing facts
will record what is perhaps often
now lost sight Of in the crowded in
terests Of everyday life and obscured
by hearsay and extrayagant writings.
Britain at, this very moment is MAX
ing the supreme sacrifice Of endur-
ance for right against might and now
strengthened by and shoulder to
shoulder with the famous French
fighting divisions is prepared to hold
the German masses in check until the
right moment arrives for the great
reYe0ge." -ta