The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-05-04
CASUALTY LIST
SINCE MARCH q
ABOUT 100000
German Toll for Big Offensive
Is Estimated at 100000,
CRISIS YET TO BE FACED
Reserves Must Aid British
When Drive Is Renewed,

WASHINGTON. May 4-British
losses in men killed, wounded, cap
tured and missing on the western front
since the German offensive began March
n. are estimated by the British mill
tary mission here at nearly 2S0OOO
In a statement today giving this cal
culaton, the mission said that every
thing indicates the offensive will be
continued almost Immediately and that
II the brunt of the attack is borne again
by the British, the situation will become
serious unless the British troops are
supported by sufficient reserves.
Based on the estimated total OF Ger
man losses OF 10000 or more since the
offensive started, Ahe British losses are
equal approximately 10 one-half that
suffered by Hiindenbrug in his greatest
blow.
Contrast to Huns.
This estimate would appear 10 he in
remarkable contrast to tho enormous
German losses n the drive. The Ger
man war office, OF course. has not DIS
closed to the world what its losses IN
the great battle have been, but the esti-
mates OF sIlied observers. have. placed
the loss Of German lie al a staggering
.ss11usGsstsa.s l-ssssf y,as.
From th< very nature sf the fighting
nilitafy experts have pointed out, the
losses OF the attackers were bound 10
be beaver than those qf the defenders,
But In addition to thai, the method OF
German attack, advancing troops in
waves faster than machine guns could
: NOW them down, must, military experts
say, have entailed enormous losses.
Afraid to Send Wounded Home.
An inkling OF how serious the Ger
man losses are, came some time ago
when it. was reported that tho German
military chiefs dared not disclose their
extent TO the German people and there
fore were sending the wounded TO
Belgium Other reports have told OF
railway gateways being choked with
trains OF wounded while the dispatches
OF correspondents at the front have told
how the battlefields were carpeted with
aray-clsd bodies.
Loss Aobout $4,000.
The situation was summed up in this
manner:
"The casualties in the British army
are emphasized by the German wire
less. Although figures from German
sources would be undoubtedly much ex-
aggerated, yet il Is certain from the
severity OF the fighting and from the
fact that the entire combatant forces OF
the British army have been almost con.
tinuously engaged, that the British
losses in proportion to reinforcements
Immediately available, must be very
heavy. II is probable that one will be
approximately accurate in quoting thesS
Is close onto 25O,OOO,
Everything points to the German
offensive being continued almost
Immediately and should the brunt
borne by the British the situation
will undoubtedly be serious, unless
available support is close at hand
in reserve strength required TO
bring relief to the British divisions
who have been in the line almost
constantly since the beginning OF
the present battle. Should the Ger
mans determine again to attack in
Flanders IL is certain that any ad-
vance in the direction OF the channel
ports will be made a great cost
10 themselves and over the bodies
OF the British army who have so
often shown in the past bulldog
tenacity'
As examples of what the British have
gone through. the statement cites two
divisions which lost large percentage
Of their effectives.
One Division Decirnatsd.
The Twenty-fifth, a new division In
the fighting between March a and 26,
lost 1000 men Put in the fighting
again from April 10 to April 10, II
lost 5000 more. :, Despite these losses
h was brigsded with the French for
counter-attack and still later II beat
VI four heavy ground attacks.
The Twenty first division fought
continually from March n to March
n ana lost 900 &nfaatrymen Of
total strength Of 5000. Later II
drove back q German attack In
vtlch five German divisions were
engaged and increased lie losses to
aooo.
Statistics such rs these" said the
statemenN bring home 10 the military
mind the terrible ordeal through which
the gEiti.h .sHz !. a0z lliliaE :