New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-04
The Strength of the British Forces
in France, Actual and
Prospective.

has been very difficult to determine the exact size
~ tho British contingent which helped to bear tne
brunt Of General Won Klucks turning movement
from Mons and Charleroi to the outskirts or farls
rho British censor has never allowed any onlcai
statement of the strength OF the expediuonar'
army 70 get into print in Great Britain and Only
vague guesses have reached this country
II is probable. however. that the eSpedtionary
army numbered about 10000 at first and has oeeh
increased TO about 10000 despite the losses OF the
,etreot from Belgium and Of the battles of the
Marine and the Aisne. This army Is composed
wholly Of trained troops and will constitute Great
Britain's most valuable contribution on land 10 the
,arse If the Allies. Earl Kitchener has announced
,o+ Il will he maintained at full strength out Of its
normal reserves and that the four volunteer armies
still 70 he formed will he created out OF new mate
rial That statement helps somewhat to Indicate
tho nrescnt strength Of the cxpeditionary army,
When the war broke out Great Britain mad at
home standing army of 1860 men and 9''4o
officers. There were also two reserve bodles-ohe
.r,h-o.o mon and the other Of $1,000 These have
,,o, drawn unon 70 increase the forces under Sir
lobn French and to make good many serious losses
They have not been drawn upon recklesslY' now
var since they are intended to last out the war
o., .,,o ontiro regular army has been transported
-. rron,.b soil and half the first reserve mas Dec"
.ont after it, there would now be available Oh 'le
Aim, ofter deductinc losses and detachmehts uuc
e,o,,o, corns service. about 100000 men, and the
49,. 1,d,or troops would bring the total up to
Yearly 100000.
r. III. sneecb on the military situation, dehNereu
-. .,o 11ousc Of Lords on September H. Earl hitch-
mon ,ros very chary about giving definite figures
lie said that there were then rather more IMAM
.iv divisions of British troops and two cavalry
livisions in the field" An infantry DIVISION 'o"-
.;.., ., from 1000 TO 10000 men, but cavalry
,;,i.ior ! much smaller. If there were eight III
r,ntv divisions and three cavalry divisions the
,ot., available might have been about 1oo""'
.,,.o, thor. were certain divisions from India
, ..,r,,ip divisions from the native Indian
arm, uudcr way as we'll as units from the colohal
.,rrisons and from Egypt, whose places were pei"s
talon lv British Tcritorials. Furthermore Earl
Kitchener suggested that troops from Canada Ne"
Zealand and Australia, with previous military
training might be assigned to the e1peditionarF
army In that case there would be little dimcuiy
N maintaining the First Army for year at
strength nearer 100000 than 10000
Tho four additional armies are being organized
,rr tbe now volunteers although the Territorials,
who numbered 9154S5 at the outbreak OF the war;
may be used in part for this purpose II they waive
tbor right 10 he considered solely as second-hne
,,,roo defence. Many OF them have done this al
,oadv nv, Offering TO serve in Egypt Gibraltar and
Malta. one OF the new armies will also contain a
division Of ma rines and bluejackets organized for
service ashore. Two of the four volunteer armies
nre now in training at The camps vacated ny the
British regulars and they will undoubtedly be
ready for service in the spring There is evidently
no foundation for the assertion that Great Britain
does not expect 10 have any volunteers, except
those from Che coionie', IN the field inside eighteen
months" Earl Kitchener was fairly explicit
we shall have ready 30 take the field armies which
wiz he well trained end will prove themselves for
lGidsblc opponents 90 the enemy
BEFORE the end Of 1915 Great Britain should easily
9rs 100000 men in active service If there is need
Of them, If her eXpeditionary army aids France
sufficiently 10 beat back the German invasion this
caN and winter her new armies will turn the scale
next spring and clear the way for an Invasion Of
Western Germany. France has now nearly 100000
men available for field service Germany has prob
ably 100000 but has to fight on two fronts. Both
France and Germany will be at the top notch of
their military energy and resources early in 1915.
But Great Britain will only then begin to put forth
her full strength.
From that point Of view every day delay in the
development Of the Kaiser's attack and every foot
az ground gained by the Allies in Northeastern
france count heavily against Germany. dead
Jock on the Asne is as costly to the Kaiser as q
ocfeat on the Marine His troops did not rush into
France in order 70 fight series Of defensive bat