General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 21, 25 November - 31 December 1918 - Part 2

Nov/1918
AUSTRALIAN ARMY CORPS.
RECORD OF PART OF THE WORK DONE IN 1918.
DESCRIPTIONS OF TABULATIONS ATTACHED.
The performancesof the Australian Army Corps, during
the Spring, Summer and Autumn Campaign of 1918 cannot be described,
with any pretence at doing them adequate justice, except at considerable length, and with the aid of many maps and diagrams.-
It is possible, however, to enumerate in tabular form,
certain statistics, which are in themselves some index of the
character and extent of this series of brilliant victories, - whether
considered relatively to the performances of other British Corps, or
absolutely on their own merits.
These criteria may be classified thus:-
(a) Prisoners and Guns captured.
(b) Towns and Villages recaptured.
(c) Frontages, depths and areas of the successive advances.-
(d) Enemy Divisions engaged and defeated.
In order to aid perusal several of the above data have been
subdivided over nine arbitrarily chosen periods or phases extending
from March 26th., 1918 - when AUstralian Troops first arrived
opposite Amiens - until October 5th., 1918, when the Corps was
withdrawn for rest.
Each of the above criteria has therefore been tabulated
in nine successive stages, and the total is also given in each
case for the period as a whole,
 

(A)
OFFENSIVE FIGHTING BETWEEN 27TH. MARCH & 4TH OCTOBER,1918.
PRISONERS & GUNS CAPTURED. 

x Total of Guns conservative estimate only.
Also many thousands of Machine Guns, Mortars, Searchlights, Vehicles, kitchens, &c. &c.
and millions of rounds of artillery ammunition.
 Prisoners include a fari No
Bn. Commanders & Several
Regimental Commanders.

(B)
TOWNS and VILLAGES etc. captured by the Australian Army Corps
during operations undertaken between 27th March and 4th Oct.1918.
 

(B) Contd.
 

A total of 116 towns and villages: - not
including many fortified farms, mills, sugar
refineries, woods and copses.
 

(c)
FRONTAGES, DEPTHS AND AREAS OF THE SUCCESSIVE ADVANCES.
 

TOTAL - 251 Sq. Miles
 

(D)
DIVISIONS ENGAGED BY AUSTRALIAN CORPS
and
NUMBER OF TIMES ENGAGED.
From 27th March to 3rd October,1918.
 

(D) contd.

It is usual to reckon that when a division has been
engaged more than once it is to be taken as two or three divisions. 
On the above basis the total number of divisions
engaged and defeated amounts to 73 during the period under
review, or more than one-third of the total German army on the
western front. Of these divisions not less than 6 are
definitely known to have been disbanded as the result of the
shattering losses suffered during these engagements. - There
is, however, very good reason to believe that a number of other
of the Divisions named have also been disbanded but it is
customary to sift the evidence very carefully and
conservatively before drawing such a definite conclusion.
 

About 25.11.18
CONTRAST OF THE PERFORMANCES OF
THE 
AUSTRALIAN ARMY CORPS
WITH THE
REMAINDER OF THE BRITISH ARMY.
AVERAGE TOTAL INFANTRY :

PERFORMANCES.
(a) March 27th 1918 to August 7th 1918.

(b) August 8th 1918 to October 5th 1918

The 4 British Cavalry Divisions are not included in the above.
 

25 /11 /18.
TABLE - SHOWING THE PROPORTIONATE SHARE
OF THE  AUSTRALIAN ARMY CORPS
IN THE RESULTS OF THE ALLIED OFFENSIVE ON
THE WESTERN FRONT IN 1918.

NOTE:- The period considered is that during which the 5 Divisions
of the Australian Corpe operated offensively; i.e., from
March 27, 1918 to October 5, 1918.(both dates inclusive).

 

RATIO of relative results to relative strengths :- 
Prisoners - 2.68
Territory - 2.24
Guns- - 1.53
 

(a) 25/11/18
Conference
at Le Cateau - Nov. 26/18
 present all Div. Commanders & Brigadiers & C.R.A's

Called Conference re
(a) Immediate future of Corps
(b) Very important Development of interest to
Corps as well as whole A.I.F. 
Move into Germany - altered policy since Peronne
- no only 11 Div - 
- 2 Aust. Divs later - Army Commd^r
- probably composite Divisions
For time being - Concentration in Belgium.
B.G.G.S.  to give particulars of Areas & Moves - I ^been away
Belgium guide books - & history &c.
Demobilization - but War not over yet - 
not till Peace
probably early February, or early March
Demobilization nevertheless looms, & we must prepare
Fundamental Changes
Hobbs takes over in 2 days.
Creation of New Department - Both Ministries
of which I take control, as
Director- General.
to grapple with whole problem.
Remains part of A.I.F., under General Birdwood.
.