NEWS OF THE WEEK.
SIR AUCKLAND GEDDES, the Minister of National Service, made an important statement on Man-Power when the House of Commons reassembled on Monday. Our armies, he said, were stronger in December than ever before, -but everything depended on the proper use of our man-power in the coming months. The Allies, excluding Russia and Rumania, could face at least on equal terms the enemy forces at present opposed to them. The secession of Russia had added to the enemy's potential strength on the Western Front possibly as many as 1,600,000 men, of whom 950,000 were Germans. But, if reinforced as they could and ought to be, the Allied Armies could face any armies that the enemy could bring against them. The British Army to-day was over 4,000,000 strong. The Empire as a whole had raised over seven and a half millions. England alone had contributed four and a half millions, or 60 per cent. ; Scotland 620,000, or 8 per cent. ; Wales 280,000, or 31 per cent; Ireland 170,000, or 23 per cent; and the Dominions 000,000, or 12 per cent—significant figures of which all, except the Irish, may be proud.
