GERMANY’S MAN POWER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1634, 7 November 1916, Page 3

GERMANY’S MAN POWER.

BIG LOSSES, BUT BIG RE-

SERVES

An interesting calculation on the subject of Germany’s man-power hits been worked out by his Honour Mr -histice Chapman. He starts out with (he following table: — (a) Population of Germany (AVhitaker’s Almanac 64,000,000 (b) Deduct women, 50 per cent 32,000,()()() Males 32,000,000 Deduct, those under 15 and above 58 years of age, approximately 50 per cent. ..’ 16,000,000 (c) Males between those ages 16,000,000 (d) Deduct as physically incapable 25 per cent 4,000,000 Capable males .... 12,000,000 (e) Deduct killed and wounded 4,000,000 Remaining capable 8,000,000 Required to defend the lines 4,500,000 Remaining capable 3,500,000 Deduct men momentarily on sick list or otherwise incapacitated, over 5 per cent, of 8,000,000 500,000 Ulilmate reserve; i.e., Germans now capable of bearing arms not yet embodied .’ 3,000,000

His Honour admits that the total population in 1914 is slightly underestimated, but the error is, he urges, far more than absorbed by only deducting 50 per cent, for women, which is under the ratio for civilised countries. He just dies Ids deduction of 25 per cent, for men physically incapable, and remarks that it is less than is usually allowed, Iml adds that we. have no actual knowledge of the statistical value of (he “surgical repairing” which (he Germans have carried to excess. He admits that 4,000,000 killed and wounded is a mere estimate, and he adds: — “! can only say that 1 cannot: bring myself to believe that it is so low. It is said that German statistics published in September, 191(5, bring it within less than half a million of that ligure. Then I am informed by medical authorities that the ‘sick parade” figure of 500,000 is not excessive as a const aid: deduction from the gross total under arms and awaiting call.”

The question then arises, says his Honour, how far the four million able-bodied men thus assumed to exist are capable of being drafted inlo the aclive army, for which purpose most of them must first ho trained. In this connection he makes the following pertinent observation:

“A recent official estimate its to men available in Ireland asserts that 240,000 able-bodied men, equal to l-16th of the total population, are required for the miscellaneous non-military services. . . If

that be correct, and the same ratio be observed for Germany, the 4,000,000 must he about absorbed, in which case a collapse would he ap2>roaching. This figure cannot, however, he implicitly relied on, as (he Germans have shown extraordinary ability in utilising the physically incapable, such as old men, women, and hoys, to replace ablebodied men. The figure, however, begins to point a time when shortage will he acutely fell.” His Honour suggests Unit since June last Germany has felt a, shortage of reserves, and remarks that the extended front covering Austria,, llouraania, and Bulgaria has accentuated the demand for first-class German troops. In conclusion, Mr Justice Chapman says:—“There remains a factor which I confess myself quite unable to estimate, namely, the extent to which the Germans, by utilising prisoners and deporting men, women, and even young girls from Belgium to their own agricultural districts, arc able to replace and liberate for service at the front ablebodied men. All we know is that the process is going on. The fact that it is going on proves that reserves are becoming seriously reduced. “I do not ask anyone to rely on these figures, but I suggest that unless they can be seriously impeached there is consolation to be derived from them, and I shall be glad to have them criticised.”