The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1915. THE BRITISH FORCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1915. THE BRITISH FORCES.

Very little information is available as to precise details of the British forces, nor could it be expected that it would he otherwise. We know that the manhood • .f the Old Country has been responding liberally to the call to arms, and we also know that the losses have been very large—how large will probably not lie known till after the war. The question of how the wastage is to be made nil, and additional troops supplied, has revived the vexed problem of voluntary or compulsory service. It is interesting, therefore, to note that Lord Kitchener, in his latest pronouncement, lias, according to the Manchester Cazette, stated (hat there is ut present no intention to increase the number of formations now existing, and that/ tlie anxiety of the War Ollice is to make up the wastage and maintain the armies at. their original strength. It is not accurately known what that strength is, but it is understood that about three million men have been mobilised in Britain, though that number does not represent the forces available for France, which is less. The army for secondary campaigns has been raised in addition to that of the main forces, so we are justified in assuming that [,ord Kitchener's statement means that the formations brought into being during the first year of the war are considered sufficient to achieve the desired result, and that the Allies have now obtained the needed superiority in effectives, which have to be maintained at their present strength. It is quite possible that (lie enlargement of the war theatre | may necessitate the provision of more troops, and, if so, there is little doubt they will be forthcoming. As a matter of course the whole British strength is far from having been sent to the Continent, but the divisions are being regularly transferred, with the result that the Allied forces are constantly expanding. As, however, the losses are necessarily heavy, and as larger I'orceß appear in the firing line the demand for trained men must increase. Kitchener's

new army i 3 a vastly different force to that which Britain possessed when war was declared. Wc no longer hear it spoken of by the Germans as "contemptible," for its "thin red line" has successfully held up vastly superior numbers of the enemy, and performed feats of valor that have driven terror into the hearts of the Huns. The offensive movement now in progress is bound to prove eostly both in men and munitions, it being inevitable that to break down the enemy's strength great sacrifices must be made. Moreover, it also means that, onee begun, the forward move must continue, and the Allies must be prepared to put more and more men in the field. France and Belgium have called up all their available strength, and Britain alone can be drawn upon for further troops. The only question is whether this is to be done on a voluntary or compulsory system. In Lord Kitchener's opinion the voluntary system should be maintained, but that if any district fails to provide its quota the ballot should be resorted to in order to make up the deficiency.' Whether such an alternative will be successful is by no means sure, but we may take in for granted that some acceptable and effective scheme will be adopted, for the nation is at one in its determination to see this terrible war to the bitter end, and the overseas dominions may be relied on to take their full share in the titanic struggle. When the great work that the Motherland has done is fully realised, the whole Empire may well be proud of the accomplishment, arid, the stimulating news that is now coming from both the Eastern and Western fronts should expedite the process of strengthening and enlarging the valiant armies that are now opening up a new chapter in the history of nations.