WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE GERMAN LOSSES. PROBABLY -200,000. Armies numerically formid(AßLE. j BUT FAILING IN QUALITY. Received May -2, 0 p.m. Lomlon, May 1. Tlw Daily Chronicle's correspondent at the French front sava tlie estimate of 100,000 German casualties during tlie present fighting is far below the reality, the loss 'being, probably, double that number. When the offensive started thore were 143 German divisions on tlie West front, and 70 in Russia, Ronmania. and Macedonia. There was also a general reserve of 44 divisions oit'the West front, each division being about half its former strength, consisting of three regiments of infantry, totalling 7500 men, 500 in the machinj gun section, 200 cavalry men, from nine to twelve batteries of artillery, employing 2000 men, and 800 pioneers. The German reserve on the West front, therefore, did not exceed halt a million. Between April 9 and 27.. 32 fresh divisions came into action on the Anglo-French front. More than half of the 32 diviLans were so severely punished that they had to withdraw and he reconstituted. The German reserve is now 13,000. On these figures there is no need to comment. They show our men have not died in vain. The German army is still formidable in nunvbers, and is fighting desperately, 1 but it has fallen in quality and armaments supplies. Tlie day is approaching when they will be unable to fill the gaps in their failing ranks.