GERMAN LOSSES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 185, 23 June 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

GERMAN LOSSES.

IN THE VERDUN BA'VVLE. SOME GRIM FJGFREST* (In the subject of German casualties in tin l Verdun buttle, a correspondent of the London "Daily News,'' says : German Headquarters arc attempting to hide from the people their enormous looses at Verdun by maintaining that Gorman losses are less than French. A few examples disprove this. Two army corps—the 3rd and 18th—were withdrawn from the front for reformation alter losing at least a third of their number. German reinforcements mp |t awav as f as t fIS they arc put into the firing lino. The 18th army corps has lost a total of 17,(100 men, and the ,'Jrd army corps, 22,000 men. In the 112 th Division of Infantrv more than half of the 7th Regiment of Reserve was mown down by the machine .mms in the fruitless attack on the slopes of the fort, and it was the same with the (50th Regiment, whose losses were 00 per cent, of the effective whole. The 19th R,cgimont on .March !) in the attack on the village of Vaux suffered similar los>e«. The 13th Company wire surprised and annihilated. Three regiments of infantry of the llth Bavarian Division Led the attack on the Malanoourt-Avoeourt wood on .March 20 and 22. They lost from *>(> to (!) |k>r cent., as also did the four regiments of the 2nd Division of Landtvehr. IN FORTY DAYS. These figures relate only to lossc* during attacks. Trench and reserve troops are, obviously, also exposed to serious loss from artillery lire. The 87th Infantry Regiment, surprised by trench fire during a relief, lost 500 men, and could not take part in the attack on Vaux on .March 10. where i; should have replaced the 19th Rcfinient. decimated by French machine jjuns.

In April 1, the Germans put into the field at the Imttlo of Verdun from Avocourt to Epargos 2:tf infantry battalions., representing nt least l()7o companies of infantry. besides '23 pioneer battalions of tlnvo companies each, making a total of ]l4o companies. These companies were in reinforced strength. Some counted as many as 2SO men before the attack-. A fair average is 2(SO men per company. This means a total infantry force engaged of 29R.000 men. Since February 21, SO bt.ttalions have been taken to the rear to he reformed, others got their reinforcements brought up to them on the line. In all, nearly -150,1)00 infantrymen, at a low estimate, appealed on the fighting line.

Prisoners' statements and French observations point to the conclusion that Gorman looses were a third of the troops engaged up to April 1. That means 100,000 men fallen in the first line-, and to this must be added losses incurred through artillery fire. Longrange guns have been reaching the revictualling and service convoys far behind. It is moderate to 'ay the total German lasses before Verdun at 200,000 tons