Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-02
EXPERT ANALYSES
THE WAR SITUATION
Sizes Up Germany's Strength
and Its Probable Ability to
Maintain It
By j. w. T. Mason
(Former London correspondent for the
United Press

(Former London correspondent for the
United Press.)
New York, Dec. 2.-The French to-
day had revised their estimate of Ger
many's field strength,
A fortnight ago they placed the to-
tai at 65 army corps, Of which they
said so were in France and Belgium
and 10 were operating against the 5us.
slams.
In their latest statement the Gallic
authorities increase the number of ar.
my corps to ,Jh-52 in the western
and 2l12 in the eastern theatre of
war.
The exact number Of troops included
in an army corps on war footing is
concealed by all governments, as a
means of confusing the enemy. 1t is
probable, however, that the German
corps have Il minimum strength Of 40,.
900 men each. This would give the
kaiser a total field strength Of 2,94O,,
900.
Has 100000. Men.
According to the census of 1910,
there are in Germany 100000 men
trained to arms and above the age OF
twenty.
ontrary to the general impression,
conscription in Germany is not univer.
sale Almost twice as mony men ar.
rive at military age there as the gov
ernment wants for army service.
Therefore, these 100000 men who
have had military training do not rep.
resent the nations entire available
strength. There are about as many
moro, above the age of II, who have
never been in the army
OF the fatherland 3 100000 men
who have done conscription services
1900 600 are between the ages of Il
and 40. These constitute Germany y
present first line and practically all
the reutonic troops now in the field
must have been drawn from their num-
hor.
If the odd 100000 are thrown asid,
as physically unfit for soldering, T.,
100000 available trained men nre left
OF these approximately 100000 arc
now at the front.
In other words, the kaiser has n re-
serve Of 100000 trained troops under
the age Of 45.
How many others are doing Their
first instructions is unknown. Possib
ly there are 100000 more Of them.
Cannot Supply Equipment.
'Ilig WOnTT unnt, IN lao a., ...l,a...
limit, for Germany must now be begin
ming to be hampcrod by lack Of equip
ment. The fotherland gained grco'
initial advantage over the allies be
cause Of its enormous stores of wa
supplies ready for immediate use, bu
there is II limit to the extent even o.
Gormnny's preparedness, and tho prob
abilities are that IL has been reached
Until the kaiser's armament fac
tories can catch up to the new deman,
II is doubtful II he can make any i'm
portant additions to his first lin
strength.
The total number of men the Ger
mans cnn put into the field is n highl,
technical proposition, II depends o.
the degree to which the nations eco
monte life can be curtpiled withou
bringing disaster to the field forces
The proportionate number Of men wh
must remain ut home to keep produc
tive enterprises in operation has neye
been satisfactorily determined.
Actual experience In each individuu
case alone can furnish an answer TO th
problem.
In the South African war practical
ly Nll able bodied Beers were In th
field, but German society is too con
plex ard the German armies depen
too much on supplies frcm home for III
Boor precedent to hold good,
If the Germans Gun mnintuin in Nh
field 100000 properly equipped hen
thy men and make up its losses os the
occur, the feat will be one OF the maj
wells Of the world.