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Show ALLIES RETREAT DUE TO LACKJF SHELLS Franco Had Narrow Escape From Ammunition Shortage Short-age at First. (Correspondence of the Associated Press.) LONDON, Jan. 26. A new explanation explana-tion of the rapid retreat oi the allies in France in tho first weeks of the war is related here by a i rencc army oi'h-oer, oi'h-oer, who says that it was due entirely to lack of artillery ammunition. When the war broke, Franco had a comparatively small supply of shells for hor lanious "75" guns, h earing a complete com-plete exhaustion, Cieueral Jolfru uwiu-u the shells to 100 rounds a day for each un. These were consequently iired most sparingly, being reserved for actual ac-tual targets and to check a too rapid advance on the part of the Germans. Tho French fell back almost to Paris, wlien General Joflro 6iiid tho time Had come to stand or fall. Tho French were now on marked ranges and in tins u:iu an advantage over the Germans. In the determination that tho French must :ith "t turn back tho invaders or give up the struggle, Joffro released the ammunition am-munition and told the gunners to fire to their heart 'b content. Five days of continuous fighting would have entirely exhausted tho Fronch supply. But three uu-o auiiioou to send the Germans back. Since then, he said, there has been no lack of "7o" shells, for the British factories have boen supplementing the French In their production. |