THE VERDUN CASUALTIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16205, 15 April 1916, Page 6

THE VERDUN CASUALTIES.

It is at last possible to form some estimate of the relative casualty cost, to attackers and defenders, at Verdun. The Germans— casualty figures are so systematically incorrect that it is generally agreed that they attach great importance to deceiving enemies and neutrals as to their remaining'strength—claim to have captured over 35,000 prisoners. To this it is replied by experts that the total French losses in killed, wounded, and missing, from February' 21 to, April 10, do not exceed 36,000, and that of these only 17,000 are unaccounted for. There has been no German attack on the Verdun sector since Wednesday, so that we may safely place the total French casualties at less than 40,000. It is unquestionable that the Germans have lost at least six times this number. .At the end of March the German losses were estimated as over 200,000 by neutrals whose calculations were based on information from Germany; since the beginning of the month, numerous attacks have been delivered in massed formation, 1 and in the face of the deadly French fire. One of the best proofs that can be offered of extraordinarily heavy German losses is the reported cessation of the attacks, which ought . to be continued if intended to draw I the Allies from other points, apart 'from the possibility of capturing Verdun. A few such battles as that waged before the great fortress for nearly eight weeks might change the German mind as to the attractiveness of world-dominion. It may even now be highly desirable that the extent of the losses endured with no compensating results should be withheld from the German public.