The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-11-05

Z therefore, or al most WITHIN rev
days thereafter, the Antwerp episode
should be finished, Belgium complet-
ely in German hands, and the main
armies facing one another in fairly
continuous battle lines from the chan
ned coast right athrswt northern
France TO the Vosges mountains, and
then southerly 10 the Swiss frontier.
With such a situation the inevitable
question is, what next?
There are obviously three possibili-
ties. The allies may break the Ger
man lines and force a German retreat,
after all; the combatants may prove
TO be Of such equal strength that
neither will be able to break through
the others Entertainments, with the
result that the present "stale-mate"
will be indefinitely prolonged; lastly,
the Germans may break the allies
line and again sweep southwark over
France 10 Paris.
Numbers Equal at First
Since these possibilities are govern
ed by numbers of men and artillery
preponderance we must begin our an
alysis of these problems by brief
survey Of the strength Of the various
combatants.
First, as TO the western allies,
France and England. France has long
gagged the size of her army by that
of her German neigh6or, and though
the strain has been terrific for coun-
try Of 39,600,000 to balance the mill
tary establishment of land of 68,-
100000, the peace establishments Of
the two nations at the outbreak of the
present war were about equal, each to-
falling some 100000 officers and men.
In addition to this France has main
tanned colonial army of both white
and native troops, fully 100000 OF
which are now on the European line
Of battle.
Adding the 500, 900 young reservists
who joined the regiments Of the peace
establishment Immediately after the
of war, and we see that
France put some 100000 men into
he field at once.
Besides this France summoned $780,
700 second reserves to the colors
fortnight after the outbreak Of hos
.ilities, these were the reinforcements
which came into action before Paris,
md did so much to bring about the
'etreat of the German armies to the
inc of the Aisne.
Lastly, France appears to have call
ID out nearly all her older men, or
yanized as the so-called Territorial
Army" and has also summoned the
,ouths whose military service would
'egin next year.
The "Territorials" are, of course,
men unfit for anything
eyond garrison duty and the guard
ny Of lines of communication, while
he youths of next years class are
aw recruits who will require several
months training before they are fit
or the line of battle. Nevertheless,
hese two sources give France another
100000 men.
Also Ga point generally overlooked
hough of vital importance), France
as the officers to command them.
ince the French losses to date must
e over 100000, France has about
100000 men at the front to-day.
When we turn to England, however, !.
re find very different state of
Kings. The British military estab-
shment, like our own, is a small
rmy of long service, professional
Dldiers.
At the beginning of the war the
ritish army numbered 10000 men,
artly stationed abroad, though UNI
Ike ourselves, England possessed a
ocular resolve of more than 100000.
hese reservists were instantly avail
BILE and England has maintained an l
rmy in France numbering from $780, q
DO to 100000 men. a
Also, from $4,000 to 10000 white 6
al patixa ronnlarc fror, Tpdia bava