GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 47, 22 September 1916, Page 3

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

THE NEED FOR EFFICIENCY.

MORE MEN MUST RE CALLED

Press Association—Copyright, Am raliaii and N.Z. Cable Association. London, September 20. Colonel Rcpington (The Times’ military critic) states that tiie end of October Avill bring slackening of operations, activity not being resumed on a grand scale till the spring of 1917. We must, lie asserts, look ahead and settle the question of the reserves available for spring operations, and not entertain any illusion regarding German man-poAver. Despite losses and defeats, Germany still lias large reserves. She lias not yet called up the 1917-18 classes, and other largo accessions are available. The enemy will call up all between the ages of 16 and 60 before admitting defeat, hoping to wear ns doAvn. The Allies must place in the hold every available able-bodied man. We have not yet a sufficient force for gaining a decisive decision. There are 5,000,000 men of military age available in Britain, sulfieienf to maintain a hundred divisions in the hold, if exemptions had not seriously encroached. We must drastically reform the Service Acts, or Germany Avill beat ns. We should organise all onr man-power. Ireland is able to give 150,000. Compulsion will be necessary to maintain the Irish divisions. Britain has no need to raise the age until the younger classes arc exhausted. There are still three or four millions exempted, secure in civil occupations, Avbilst one and three-fifth millions of military ago are Avearing badges. If forced to call the older men, we must use them for home defence, relieving younger men for the front. GERMAN FEAR OF THE “TANKS.” Paris, September 21. - A confidential document found on a Somme prisoner, signed by the Chief of Staff of the Third Army, and dated September 14th, states that it is ceitain the Allies an-i 11 make more formidable attacks, the present fighting only being the prelude to more important struggles. It is therefore essential that all troops should remain at their posts at any cost to the last man, rather thah concede ground. Officers unable to obtain such a piomise from their men were to be court-martialled. An official paper found on a German major taken prisoner refers to the British “tanks,” and says that the new engines’ cruelty equals then efficiency, and steps must be taken to combat the monsters.