HOW GOES THE WARP *
WE desire to draw the attention of our readers to an excellent pamphlet written by Mr. G. W. Prothero, who has already done admirable work in the region of war literature. This pamphlet, which we may add is issued by the Central Com- mittee for National Patriotic Organizations, contains an estimate of the preeent situation and the need for further effort, and by means of two very clear maps shows the amount of territory belonging to the Allies occupied by Germany. One of them also shows the small piece of enemy's territory occupied by France in the corner of the Vosges. The second map shows the Russian territory occupied by the Germans and the Austrian territory occupied by Russia. Each map shows also the lines held by the opposing armies. Very valuable are the estimates of the available forces. As regards the British force, Mr. Prothero estimates that at the beginning of the war our available military forces all told, including native troops in India, totalled 850,000. In the first three months of the war, he points out, as we were told in Parliament, about a million men enlisted. During the last five months we have added another half. million. The Colonial contingents number 100,000 in all, and to these we must add the 200,000 men employed in one way or another in the Navy. Thin we get a total of about 2,650,000 men, or, if we deduct 200,000 for permanent casualties, we have a total of about 2,450,000 men under arms. As Mr. Prothero's estimate was probably made nearly two months ago, we should perhaps add to our fighting forces another 250,000 men, which would bring the total to 2,700,000 men. We should of course not have dared to mention these figures if they were not set forth by an organization of which the Prime Minister is President and Mr. Balfour one of the Vice-Presidents. Apparently things which cannot be said by a newspaper may be said in a pamphlet. As, however, our pen has been temporarily set free by Mr. Prothero, we will venture to say that we think his estimate is at least half a million under the mark.
As for our allies, Mr. Prothero points out that the French authorities have told as that they have 2,500,000 men in the field and 1,250,000 men in reserve, ready at any moment to be put into the line. Making a deduction for casualties, Mr.
• Here Goa. the Wort By G. W. Prothero. London Central Committee for National Patriotic Organisation% 02 Charing Cram pd.] . Prothero therefore considers that the French must be reckoned to have four millions still available, and behind them another 2,500,000 untrained men who can be called upon. In the French Navy there are about 100,000 men. In the case of Russia he estimates that the fighting force immediately avail- able is about four millions. Belgium has about 200,000 men in the field and Serbia another 200,000. To these we must now happily add the three millions which constitute the Italian Army.
Now as to our enemies. Roughly, Mr. Prothero puts the original German force as ten millions, but deducts two millions for wastage. That gives some eight millions of possible German effectives. The forces of Austria-Hungary he puts at between five and six millions, or, say, thirteen millions for the two Germanic Powers. As to Turkey he speaks with no certainty, but we think we may roughly estimate her force at half a million. If these figures are correct, our total enemy forces would be thirteen and a half millions, minus 3,750,000 casualties.
Mr. Prothero's pamphlet ends with a paragraph headed "The Talk of Peace," in which he gives some very sound advice. As he prudently says, "there will be time enough when we have won the victory and secured an honourable peace to consider how that peace is to be rendered permanent."
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