ENEMY ARMIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CIII, Issue 15740, 26 August 1915, Page 9

ENEMY ARMIES.

ON TWO FRONTS. INTERESTING ESTIMATES. Press Association—By Tel.—Copyright. LONDON. August 2-1. The best information available states that the numbers of the enemy armies in the western and eastern fronts on July 31 wove —Western, 1.803,000 Germans; eastern., 1,400,000 Germans and probably 1.120.000 Austrians. making 3,200,000 Germans, all armed and in the actual lighting lino. Besides these a large number of Germans, priiicipa.'ly tile Landwehr and Landsturm. arc in the garrisons, and fortifications and on the lines of communication, besides convalescents and invalids. It is impossible, to say how far these reserves are armed and equipped, but the fact that- the total number on tho two fronts is only 3,200,000 appears to show that this is about the largest number the German Government, with all its preparations and resources was able to put fully equipped into tlv> fighting line. Frcm a date shortly after the outbreak of the ivnr the Germans supplied the losses of their first line on the .western front by men from tl-.o second and even the third line troops, namely the Landwehr and the Landsturm. No one can any longer speak ' with accuracy of tho German first lino as distinguished from the second and third lines and it is safer to regard all in the fighting line as of the same ! qt'ality. "While the original first lino has been largely supplied from the second and third lines the two latter classes contain a considerable leavening of the first line and reserves. In the first few montlis of the war it was calculated that tho first line of troops had lost about 50 per cent, in casualties and the reserve about 25 per cent. Their places were taken bv recruits of iho 1914 class and men from the remaining categories of units that had been formed, including the 1913 class of lecruits. Since then 'they have again lost 50 per cent, by casualties, so probably there remain only about 2o per cent, of the original first line to which must be added the slightly wounded who have returned to the fighting line. GERMANY'S RESERVES. HOW THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED. ESTIMATE OF LOSSES. The German casualties reported up to June 30 were 1,672,444, of whom 306,123 were killed, 15,808 died of disease, and 540,032 were either missing, prisoners, or seriously wounded and permanently out of action. There has been very heavy fighting on both fronts .since June, and a large proportion of the casualties for June and later have not yet been reported. It is provisionally estimated that the total loss for the year is two millions. If the official statement of 1,672,444 for ton months is accepted as correct and it is assumed that half a million slightly wounded who have recovered are effective, the ioss may be assumed at one" million, exclusive probably of half a. million wounded who are absent in hospital and on leave. Therefore tho total net loss is 1,500,000 for the year, and of these 400,000 have been killed. Thero are no data on which to calculate accurately, the number of German prisoners. It appears probable that the Germans began tho war with eight million men available for service, aud this total could possibly be increased by one million or one million and a half if every man eligible gave his services. It is remarkable that there are only 3,200,000 in tho fight-' mg line. The only reasonable explanation is that the Germans are unable to supply more arms, equipment, guns and ammunition. They may yet increase the equipment. A considerable number of the eligibles required for Hie aL* factories were included in the eight millions. It must be remembered that half a million youths attain military age every twelve months. The class of 1914, which was included in the eight millions has already seen ser\ ice, and contributed materially to the losses. The class of 1914 wcro'probably 750,000, because all the men who had been previously put back to former classes for various reasons were called up in the 1914 class. Tho class of 1915, called up in December, cannot be greater than 350,000, and has suffered inconsiderable losses. The classes of 191/, the first of which are" now in training, cannot bo greater than 400,000 altogether, because so many are unfit for immediate service.