1 MARCH 1919, Page 3

The American War Department has published the figures vi the

rifle strength of the Allied and enemy forces on the Western Front last year. On April 1st the Allies had 1,246,000 men in the fighting line and the enemy had 1,569,000. On Juno 1st tho Allies had 1,496,000 and the enemy 1,639,000. From that time the Allied strength wont on growing ; it exceeded the enemy's strength on July 1st, and attained its maximum of 1,682,000 ou September let, The German rifle strength, on the other hand, declined by 227,000 in June, fell a little in July and August, and dropped suddenly by nearly half-aquillion in September and October. On November lot the Allies had. 1,485,000 men to the enemy's 866.000. Our old metaphor of the tug-of-war has been justified. To timid souls the enemy seemed immovable, but when under our relentless pressure he began to give way his collapse was sudden and final. It may be noted, too, that Sir Douglas Haig was perfectly right in emphasizing the enemy's numerical superiority through the spring and early summer, until a considerable American force was trained and ready to take its place in the Allied line.