The New York Times/1918/06/25/Dysentery and Influenza Weaken German Army As Hopes of a West Front Victory Are Waning

Dysentery and Influenza Weaken German Army As Hopes of a West Front Victory Are Waning

By PHILIP GIBBS.

Copyright, 1918, by The New York Times Company

Special Cable to The New York Times.

WAR CORRESPONDENTS' HEADQUARTERS, June 24.—The Germans lost heavily in a raid carried out this morning by British troops between Fletre and Strazeele. They put up a fierce resistance, and over 100 of them were killed in their trenches in the close fighting, as well as by the British bombardment. Fifty prisoners were brought back and three machine guns.

Other small raids were made by the British elsewhere, resulting in prisoners being brought in.

The enemy is not happy, either with his present conditions in the line or with the prospects of another offensive, which many of the Germans believe they will be called on to make soon. It is obvious that the great hopes they had before March 21 have frittered out, owing to the way their army has been checked and held on all sides. The most optimistic of them still believe they have a last supreme chance of gaining a decision this year, but I doubt whether this belief is widespread among the men now in or near the line.

Their health does not seem of the best just now, and they are said to be suffering to some extent from a kind of influenza, to which they are perhaps rendered more liable by their restricted rations. Dysentery also has touched them, according to information that has reached us. This sickness is not, in my opinion, accountable for the delay in launching a new offensive, but may have some effect on the fighting quality of the enemy.

The weather will not help him. It has been raining steadily, and seems likely to continue wet. Given another week of this, and the ground becomes bogged, as in the old days of Flanders, and the Allies will gain further time, while their reserves grow in strength.