The Daily News. THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1916. PUTTING OUR BACKS INTO IT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1916. PUTTING OUR BACKS INTO IT.

The calling up of the last married "'Derbyites" anil the leasing of tlip Conscription Bill at Home show that Britain 13 putting into training all her available manhood. She now has her back in the war, and nit ana to keep it there until the enemy is decisively beaten. Britain's action will have a direct effect upon the colonies, and we can take it for granted that before long the manhood of the Empire will be marshalled for war. Here in New Zealand, the Conscription Bill is already on the stocks and will probably make its appearance as soon as the Address-in-Eeply debate is finished. Report says it will follow very largely th>* lines of the British measure and be worked in with the present recruiting scheme. To maintain our reinforcements we have to provide recruits at the rate of 2400 a month, or nearly 30,000 a year. By this time next year we will have sent away and have in training something like ninety thousand men. By the end of 1917 the number will be well over the !QO 4 OOO mark. It J* a» accepted axiom

that no country can take for purposes of war, and keep its attain going, more than ten per • cent, of its population, which means about oik- out of two of men of military age. By the end of , 1917, therefore, we will be at the end of our military resouiws. With the tvar still on we will then have tp draw upon men over the ap: of 45 or boys under the age of 21. According to the Hon. G. W. Russell, there were 303,704 effectives in the Dominion at the time the National Register was taken, and 112,778 were willing to ;uin the Expeditionary Forces. This does not mean, however, that the country can spare all j these men. A great number of tbem are j engaged in food production or serving in industries that must be kept going. A big percentage would, he doubt, also be medically unfit. It may be concluded that by the end of 1917 it will be difficult to maintain the quotas. As for married men,, it seems fairly clear that they will be called up in a year's time, and it is a position they should be preparing to face. Of course, it 13 possible the war may end this year. Opinion in the Old Country is very strongly held that it will, and that the precipitative calling to the colors of every available man is but- part of the plf.ll to have ready the forces to throw into the fighting when the great move ij made. It was anticipated that this r.icve would take place this month, but the great German attack on Verdun has probably diminished the French supply of shells, and until it is replenished, the combined attack cannot be attempted. It is not a case of shortage of men, for Joffre seems to have along the Western line plenty and to spare. Reports are that the Allies have all the artillery required, and so it must be the munitions that are short. If the Russians can attack at the same time, the prospects of the enemy being mortally squeezed are distinctly good, but are the Russians ready? They have had a treinendouß lot of keway to make up during the pa3t, six months in guns and munitions, without which all the human bravery in the world is of no avail. Russia is not a highly developed or organised industrial country, and to j adapt herself to the neiv conditions demanded by the course of the war is not as easy a matter for h;r as, for instance, Great Britain. No doubt, Japan and America are pouring in guns and munitions and Britain and France lending assistance, but the Russians are holding a big' front, and their requirements in men, guns and munitions are correspondingly heavy. Of men Russia has plenty and to spare. If she lias the guns and munitions then she can take the offensive. It is on the Western front, however, that the decision will he fought out and there the Allies will deliver their sledgehammer blows. If the Germans find they are out-matched it is possible they will seek terms, and peaie come as suddenly as the war started. According to Samuel Hill, an America:' railway magnate, who has been in Europe lately, this will happen. He says that Germany is beaten, and tliat she cannot struggle against the overwhelming financial strain. Such statements, however, have to be taken with reserve. "So long as she can feed herself and has the materials for manufacturing munitions, Germany can hold out. Finances doii't count such a great deal when a country is not trading to any extent with othf-" countries, and can continue to print and have accepted paper money. When it comes to redeeming it, however, bankruptcy will probably ensue. But that will be after the war. As for food, we believe the Germans can subsist upon what they .ire able to grow themst Ives, They may not live as well as they are accustomed to, but any man, when forced to it, can live on half the food he generally eats, and be far better in health as the result. Over-eating, it is said, provides work for seventy-five per cent, of the doctors. The German as a rule has a voracious appetite, and he will not take kindly to a reduction of his fare, but, "up against it" as he is, he can still subsist—and fight. Germany will feel the pinch when it conies to material for munitions. Copper is necessary, and her stock of doorknobs, telephone wires, and the like that she has for months been commandeering, must soon be eaten up. If she is unable to smuggle in more, then her end will be in sight. Just now. however, the Allies must bend their whole energies to thrashing her unmercifully. It is the only argument that will convince her of the futility of the struggle and bring her back to reason. It is iust as well to place no reliance whatever in other means of putting out the conflagration, Up to now they have proved delusions, and, we are afraid, will provo so to Clio end of the chapter. We must punch and punch hard with every ounce we possess, and send the Germans reeling 'iack to the Rhine before peace is in sight. That is a fact we will be all the better for unreservedly accepting now.