THE BRITISH AT WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 194, 6 May 1918, Page 6

THE BRITISH AT WAR

In his book, "Tho British Army at War," Air. i'raiik h'o\, an Australian journalist serving w.ith the Royai li'iold Artillery, traces this whole history of the war in outlino from August, 1911, to August, 1017. The fact which this short history serves most to illustrate is the remarkable manner in which England suddenly btcame, on the press of necessity, one of the great military nations of tho world. Three years ago the .British Expeditionary Army consisted of 100,000 men. In August, 1914, Britain had, perhaps, 400 guns, of which about 50 were of heavy calibre. The production oi high explosives in 19U was almost negligible. The year's supply would not keep the guns of to-day going for a single week. In 1915, England began to produce high explosives on a largo scale, and in amounts which mado tho 1911 output seem -ontemptible, but still in quite inadequate quantities. In 1916 the 1915 amount had been increased sevenfold. In 1917 the 1916 amount had been increased fourfold. Of machineguns England made in 1917 twenty times as many as in 1915. In 1917 the rate of production of aeroplanes for the first six months had increased fourfold .is com pared with the previous year. Today the Munitions Department of the British Government is the responsible employer of 2,000,000 people. Tho last paragraph of Air. Fox's book must sum up the pride of every Britisher who Tends and understands tho figures. "At whatever point it is regarded, the British Army's effort in defence of human civilisation is so vast as lo bo awe-in-spiring. From the wort of the soldier in the trenches back to that of tho women at the benches, it shows an heroic degree of energy and devotion and self(lenial. Terrible tho tragedy which has made the effort necessary, but sublime the courage which has nmdo the effort suerpwf'il: and sncce-ssfal il stands today without a doubt."