HINDENBURG’S DEFENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11647, 16 August 1916, Page 6

HINDENBURG’S DEFENCE.

Discussing / the i strength of the forces in Von Hindehburg’s old command north of the Pripet the military correspondent of the Morning Post says:—“So far the Austrians have had to fight their battles without much help from their German masters. The Verdun offensive has been carried out at their expanse on the front in Russia, leaving Hmdenburg, so it is said, with only 48 infantry and 10 cavalry divisions to hold his front of doOJmilcs between Riga and the Pripet. Assuming that ail his units are up to full strength—a somewhat doubtful assumption in view or (he Grown Prince’s demands for drafts to fill casualties, and the known practice of the Germans to> allow their armies on the defensive to fall below establishment —the effective strength of Hiudenburg’s group of armies does not much exceed a million, comprising about 050,000 nfl.es. Thus on the most liberal estimate he had less than 1500 men per mile with which to meet all requirements before he parted with his .troops—probably a couple.of divisions —which he despatched to the Lutsk region to aid General Puhallo. More than this he could not he expected to do in the way of rendering direct assistance. For the rest, be has made'a brave show by demonstrating atfvarions points, which, however, could hardly deceive anybody.”