BELLIGERENT MAN POWER.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 March 1918, Page 6

BELLIGERENT MAN POWER.

Reviewing the military man power of the belligerents, Sir Auckland Geddcs, Minister for National Service, stated in his speech on January 14 that the results of the Government’s examination of the position were not unsatisfactory. Wholly excluding Russia and Roumania, w r e and our allies have a substantial-superiority both in fighting strength and in ration strength over the armies of the Central Powers. Regarded, therefore, from a purely statistical’point of view, the strength of the opposing forces gives no cause for anxiety that the enemy, owing to the Russian collapse, will be able to bring such forces to bear on tho western front as to overwhelm, us by sheer wmight of numbers. By the possession of a unified system of command and an interior pisition with good railway communications, the enemy possess a undoubted advantage over tho Allies. But in stability and solidarity of public opinion, tho enemy possess no corresponding advantage. War weariness in Austria is certainly very great, and in Germany it is surely greater than in England, Turkey is utterly war-weary. On the other hand, public opinion carries less weight in the enemy countries than in the more democratic allied countries. Already the Germans have had to place lads of IS in the trenches on the Russian front, as compared with the British ago limit of 19 for service overseas, the French age limit of 20 years for service in .the field, and the American age limit of 21. Not only are our enemies employing younger ! men than w t o arc, but ,in Austria tho upper ago limit has been raised as high as 55. These considerations point to the conclusion that the enemy reserves of man-power are of inferior quality, and arc more nearly exhausted than those of the allies. Having examined the effect of Russia’s defection on the enemy reserves, Sir Auckland Gcddes .declared 'that the resources of the allies and America actually mobolised in military units or in reserve in civil life are sufficient

to assure victory. Nothing but a psychological catastrophe in our own or an allied country seuh as that which has befallen Russia, can save the Central Powers. The armies of Britain and her allies are, at present, in relative numbers and morale, in a position to face at least on equal terms the forces of the enemy at present opposed to them, and if the necessary rcinforccmtnts arc found during the present, as without doubt they can and ought to be found, they can face any additional forces which tho enemy can bring into the field. As the full force of America comes into play the endurance of the Allies will be justified by tho establisment of a superiority which should prove sure herald of complete and final victory.