If the Germans were in difficulties on August 24th, they
must be in far greater difficulties on September 24th, for the recent calls upon their artillery have been enormous. Faced with such a bombardment as ours, they cannot have hoarded their ammu- nition as directed. Troops pounded as the Germans have been of late simply will not stay in the trenches unless their own artillery can answer something like shot for shot. In the present case there is no possibility of thinking that the document was a stratagem of war, or designed, as no doubt have been a good many of the publications regarding shortage of food in Germany, to influence neutral opinion in regard to the blockade. Not even a pacificist would be moved to tears by hearing that the Germans were getting short of shell or were trying to secure an armistice while they renewed their reserves of ammunition. We may feel sure that General von Falkenhayn's notice was only sent out because of dire necessity.
