GERMANY’S “CAPTURES.”

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144854, 4 December 1915, Page 3

GERMANY’S “CAPTURES.”

“COUNTING” OF PRISONERS. The following semi-official statement regarding the German method of “counting” prisoners has been issued in Paris:— “The Germans claimed in a recent communique that, they look prisoners 211 officers and 10,721 men in tho course of the fighting in Champagne and Artois. In order to obtain this figure the Germans reckon the killed and wounded as prisoners. The object of this method of counting, to which they constantly have recourse, is to swell the apparent total of their captures. The French communiques, on the other hand, are careful to point out that tho prisoners taken by tho French troops are able-bodied. “Thus, on September 26 the French communique announced that tho number of prisoners taken was 16,000 unwounded on the Champagne front, and that tho total number of prisoners taken on the whole front exceeded 20,000 able-bodied men. On September 29 the French communique, speaking of tho total results of the fighting, mentioned that the German losses in killed, wounded, and prisoners exceeded the effective strength of three'army corps. “Again, according to the German communique of September 28, we are supposed to have brought into action in the Souain region masses of cavalry which the enemy’s artillery fire is said to have at once dispersed. As a matter of fact, nothing of the sort occurred* at any point of the front. In the Souain region, after the infantry had carried the first German positions, small groups of cavalry dashed forward to show the infantry the way. One of these groups took prisoners 800 German soldiers. “The sincerity of the German communique is demonstrated by the fact that of our victories in Artois and in Champagne they have announced nothing except the retreat of a division and tho taking of several trenches. They discreetly pass over in silence tho capture of 25,000 prisoners and of 150 guns. In reality the German Army has submitted to the will of its ox>ponent.”