WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

, ENEMY'S MAN-POWER. TBKMENDOUSLY SEDUCED. CASUALTIES IN. 1918, 2,500,000. Beoaived Nor., 1, 8.20 p.m. London, Oct. 31. Whereas in March last the enemy pos■eaaed eighty fresh reserve divisions, the number is now reduced to fifty, whereof only seven had a fortnight's rest. None 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 divkkros reappearing in the line and being unable to muster a thousand rifles out of an establishment of G750 rifles, excluding machine-gunners. In one instance a division was reduced to roughly one battalion. During the last ebc months roughly tVenty-nve divisions have been disbanded,'while in the last four weeks five third-rate and ill-equipped divisions have been transferred from Russia to the west front The enemy's total shortage in rifles may safely be taken as over 050,000. ' It is estimated ijhat since January I the enemy's casualties have been 2j -Billions, wtiereof a million were permanent, while the total reserves in the German depots at present are estimated Hot to exceed 340,000, including the greater portion of the 1920 class. Hitherto every effort has been made to postpone the employment of the latter class, a* H is the sole remaining reserve of enemy man-power. Its consumption would involve serious economic consequences to Germany after the war. It is estimated that of 18,000 guns of all calibre* on the western front in July, 83 per cent were lost in battle casualties atone. The divisions from Russia thrown into battle were not provided with ar- . tillery or machine-guns, while the decreasing aircraft activity is a further sign of the deficiency of material and resources, causing an increasingly seri-, on* effect on the enemy's morale. Though nothing like general demobilisation has occurred, it remains to be seen whether the Entente armies' pressure can be continued with sufficient vigor to cause a general collapse of the enemy's resistance. Tfce situation of the Czechs in Siberia continues worse. They are retiring on the whole front except in the Ekaterinburg region.— United Service. AMERICANS ADVANCE LINES. Received Nov. 1, 7.45 p.m. London, Oct. 31. An American official message states: We advanced our lines northward of Qr"irt Pre, and occupied Bellejoyeuse j faun.—Ana. NX Cable Assoc