The Lesser Allies and the War
The countries which have been conquered and occupied by the enemy must not be regarded as incapable of making any further contribution to the Allied war effort. Czech and Polish forces have been organised, and Polish war vessels took fart in naval operations round Norway. Some detachments of the Norwegian army were brought to this country from Narvik, and both Norway and Holland have been able to put naval units at the disposal of the Allies, as well as their large mercantile marines ; and the Dutch overseas Empire remains intact. But of the occupied countries it is Belgium which is able to make the largest contribution of personnel to the Allied fighting ser- vices. It is reported from Paris that a complete Belgian division is already organised for despatch to the front, and that it will be possible to create a new Belgian army of at least 200,000 men from refugees of military age, and this without reckoning the force which reached France before King Leopold's surrender, and those who held on in Flanders and were rescued from Dunkirk. Belgium had no navy, but her merchant shipping saved for the Allies comes to more than 150,000 tons. These total resources accruing to the Allies from Germany's victims are by no means negligible, but it is melancholy to reflect how great a combined strength these countries would have had if they had joined in simultaneously instead of waiting to be devoured one by one.
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