THE BUTCHER'S BILL TO THE END OF 1914
We were strictly kept within our lines: I had no opportunity, therefore,
of ascertaining what other troops were in our neighbourhood. I took it
for granted that we were supported, as it was quite clear that our
battalion was acting as an advanced post. A battery of eight guns was
sent to strengthen our position; but no other troops showed themselves;
and the battery commander declared that he had come a distance of forty
versts by march-route without seeing more than a few detachments of
infantry and cavalry, the last named chiefly Cossacks.
Writing of numbers recalls certain remarks which I heard about this time
concerning the force, or supposed force, of ourselves and our enemies.
The Germans on the East Prussian front were put by our commander at
1,600,000 men, with another 250,000 or 300,000 in Austria. I am inclined
to think that these figures are an under estimation; though, on account
of the speed with which the Germans moved their troops about by rail, it
was very difficult to arrive at correct conclusions concerning their
numbers. At one time, however, when they considered there was a serious
fear of Germany being rapidly overrun by their ponderous foe, I am sure
there was more than 2,000,000 German soldiers on the Eastern front with
not less than 3,500 field-guns, and 1,000 guns of position, not
including machine-guns of rifle-calibre.
To oppose this vast force the Russians had about 3,000,000 men in
Poland, and West and South Russia, with 3,000 field-guns, and about 400
guns of position and siege-guns. They claimed to have another 3,000,000
mobilizing, and already on the move; and I do not think this was an
exaggeration. Russia could easily raise 12,000,000 _good troops_, if she
had the material and money to furnish them. That money is the sinews of
war is not a trite saying--it is an absolute fact. Without gold armies
cannot exist, any more than they can subsist without food. The output of
Russian soldiers is limited by the financial resources of the country.
She had 3,000,000 men at the front. When a quarter of a million of these
was wiped out, they were replaced by another quarter of a million; and
so on. The reason that no more than the 3,000,000 was ever present at
the front at one and the same time seemed to be that the number stated
was all she could supply in the field: and these were serving,
practically, without pay; and often on food that was scanty in quantity,
and coarse in quality. After the close of the year 1914 the Russians,
seeing that it was a stern necessity, made almost superhuman efforts to
bring up more artillery; and they increased the number of their heavy
siege-guns; and, in a lesser degree, those of the field and machine
classes of ordnance.
The Russians were always very strong in cavalry. I believe their mounted
Cossacks alone exceeded 60,000 men; and there was, probably, 40,000 line
cavalry in Poland--cuirassiers, dragoons, lancers, hussars, chasseurs,
etc.--to oppose which the Germans had certainly no more than 20,000
inferior horsemen. The Russian cavalry are not comparable to those of
England and France; but they are far superior to those of Germany: yet,
I must admit, the latter Power had to contend against superior numbers
in this arm. I believe that in every cavalry encounter which took place
the Russians had a numerical, as well as a tactical, superiority.
In reference to losses: the Russians put those of their enemies on this
front at about 1,000,000 men at the close of the first five months of
the war. This includes prisoners. It is said that 50,000 Austrians were
captured in the first fortnight of December. I was an eye-witness to the
awful slaughter which took place on many occasions; but, as I have
pointed out, the majority of the wounded men soon return to the ranks.
Still, I think the Germans had at least 400,000 men put out of action in
this region, not including prisoners.
The loss of the Russians I believe to have been quite as heavy as that
of the Germans, perhaps even more so. Their chief strength lay in the
fact that they could speedily replace every man they lost, which the
Germans could not do.