The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1914-08-07
RELATIVE STRENGTH.

The Washington correspondent OF
the Chicago Tribune quotes an esti-
mtae Of the relative military strength
Of the European Powers, whi2h ne
says is made by a military officer
Who has been upon the field with the
armies OF France, Germany, Austria
md Russia and served as an obsery r
Turing the Balkan wars
The Powers are named, in the or
ier Of their estimated strength, as
ollows
Russia. Germany, france, Austria,
Balkan states, England meaning
treat Britain, Italy
Russia is placed first because OF its
xperience during the Japanese war
md the rehabilitation OF the army
ince. ana as a result OF that con-
lict. Russia is. with the exception Of
ne Balkan States, the only great
1urorean country which has partici-
lated in a modern war Of large pro
ortions curing the last twenty-five
ears The British army has fought
lothing but the so-called inferior
aces -Asiatics and Africans III
quipped and i'll trained-with the
Exception of the Beers. And the tao
les Of the British in the Boer war in
Heated that little had been learned
ince Braddock's defeat about the art
IF warfare as it is understood where
mall bodies OF men operate in large
spaces and pursue guerilla methods
has long been believed and is said
be feared in Great Britain, that
rial of strength between the British
nd the Germans would prove that
he actual military strength Of Great
}ritain in modern warfare is not as
treat as figures might indicate The
rribunes informant presumably
.abes this into consideration in plac-
ng Great Britain sixth in the list.
he groups the Balkan States as the
Iuh Power. but it must be borne in
mind that it is not anown whether
81 not they will prove unit in the
resent war Balkan unity has not
leen in existence recently
Patriotism runs high in the French
rmy and It is believed popularly
bat the Freach never felt more con
ident than they DO today Of Their
military efficiency. Others doubt it,
me Germans have been regarded for
,ome time as aching for war TO
rove the efficiency Of their military
establishment Great Britains naval
treng,h IS greatest but the empire 3
r-nung possessions. some Of which
might require attention 10 prevent
evolt. might call much o. her naval
strength into play in Asian waters
and redure by that much her naval
efficiency .n European waters. None
81 ttr other Powers have important
possessions and dependencies so
tIdelg scattered and OF such import
sn-e Russia is practically a single
mi, empire. whose ambition has been
advance steadily and solidly TO
ward the east OF Asia and southwarl ]
ousrd Asian ports that are ice-frce
I'D tae year and TO possess the Bal
Kan states The Persian outlet is
practically established since Persia
8. noa virtually "a Russian- British
possession
AusE has considerable Slsv
population against the LOYALTY oi
which tie Psu-Sisv propaganda 90
Belgrade. looking TO the merging OF
the interests o. 70.00soo0 o. 10000.
600 slays has worked How great d.
me ro5a3.ltt o. tie dlsaffection o.
The slavic population Of Austria
Hungary. in the interest % the
servian-R Russian combination AMI
-slsylsm. is an unanswered oues-
ion The disaffertlon of the Slavs
r the Dual Empire would cause re-
adjustment of the relative values a.
The factors in Tire Pan-E1roDesn var
which nov seems 20 % assured.
40 estimate of military efncien s.
10 advance of demonstration ls OF
great value. TIE looming fart oI