GERMANY’S WANING POWER.

Taihape Daily Times, 5 November 1918, Page 2

GERMANY’S WANING POWER.

MEN ANT) GUNS SERIOUSLY DEP.|^ED. LONDON, October 31. Whereas in March, last the enemy possessed eighty fresh reserve divisions, the number is now reduced to fifty, of which only seven have had a month's rest. Therefore the Germans’ have not a single division which can be called fresh. Cases have actually occurred in the last fortnight of enemy divisions re-appearing in the line unable to muster a thousand rifles out of an establishment of 6750 rifles, excluding machine-gunners. In one instance a division was reduced to roughly one battalion. During the last six months twenty-fivo divisions were disbanded, while in the last four weeks five third-rate ill-equipped divisions were transferred from Russia to the West front. The enemy’s total shortage of rifles on all establishment may safely be taken as over 550,000. It is estimated that since January Ist the enemy’s casualties have been 21 millions of which, one million are permanent, while the total reserves at German depots, at present are estimated not to exceed 340,000 including the greater portion of the 1920 class. Hitherto every effort Tias been made to postpone the employment of the latter class, as it is the sole remaining reserve of the enemy man-power Its consumption would involve serious economic consequences in Germany after the war. It is estimated that of 18,000 German guns or all calibres on the Western front in July, 33 per cent have been lost. Divisions from Russia were thrown into battle unprovided with artillery or machineguns, while decreasing aircraft activity is a further sign of deficiency in material resources causing an increasingly serious effect on the enemy’s morale, though nothing like general demoralisation has occurred. It remains to be seen whether the Entente armies’ pressure can be continued with sufficient vigour to cause a general collapse of the enemy’s resistance. The situation of the Czechs in Siberia continues to grow worse. They are retiring on the whole front except in the Ekaterinburg region.