"COLONEL REPINGTON'S VIEWS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 26 October 1917, Page 5

"COLONEL REPINGTON'S VIEWS

GERMANY CANNOT WIN BY

NUMBERS

(Times Service.) ! LONDON, Oct. 25. j Colonel Repington, who has visited. the Americans at the front, says that General Pershing could not put his divisions into the line now, but is resolved to perfect his armies before he undertakes a gigantic battle, excepting in the air and water. All supplies for the troops are coming from America, also even great quantities of rolling stock. Dealing with the general position, Colonel Repington says that ascertainable figures show that the chances of Germany winning by dint of numbers have long since passed. The German fighting strength is now 5,750,000, whereof 2,200,000 are in the West, 1,200,000 in the East, and the balance in depots, garrisons, and administrative services. There are probably half a million reserves, including 380,000 partly trained of the 1919 class, which, with those recovered from wounds, are the only men available for reinforcements. If the 1918 fighting is on a similar scale to this and last year, Germany will be compelled to use the 1920-21 classs next year or weaken or reduce her divisions. She will probably make superhuman efforts this winter to equal tho British artillery output and beat us in the air, but this trill not make easier the maintenance -of her infantry strength.