BATTLE CASUALTIES. 



67 



The following table of killed and wounded, giving periods 

 and operations, will aptly show what a struggle between Great 

 Powers under modern circumstances of war really means : — 



1916 : 1st July to 31st Dec. 



Embracing the battles of 



the Somme and Ancre 

 1917 : Jan. Feb. and March 



Not marked by severe fighting 

 1917 : April 



Operations in front of Arras 

 1917: 1st May to 27th Oct. 

 ' Messines and operations in 



Belgium 

 1917-18 : 28th Oct. to 16th March 



Operations at Cambrai 

 1918: 17th March to 14th July 



Period of great hostile offensive 

 1918 : 15th July to 11th Nov. 



Period of great Britsh offensive 



Gas. 



K. W. 



Gunshot : 



Bombs. 



K. W. 



Total. 



33 352 3941 6063 10389 



771 1260 2031 



2070 2655 4625 



68 1138 10590 25258 34054 



33 4096 8869 13004 



78 451 14122 13154 27805 



26 246 22500 23251 46023 



Totals 211 2220 58090 77410 137931 



An accurate account was kept of bomb casualties as against 

 gunshot, and it formed a very good guide as to German aerial 

 activity and strength, and to our aerial supremacy. From 

 records of casualties the zenith of German aerial power would 

 appear to have been reached in August and September 1917 

 when bomb casualties in animals amounted to about 400 per 

 week, and though the enemy left the Front considerably alone 

 and gave the back areas a dusting in May 1918, the casualties 

 were week by week on the wane, and in October 1918 before 

 the Armistice they only amounted to about sixteen per week. 

 It was a singular fact that with the exception of one instance, 

 when the crow was hit instead of the pigeon, Veterinary 

 Hospitals on Lines of Communication received no damage 

 from enemy bombs. 



