Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-08-21
nations actually engaged in war agains
Germany and Austria-Hungary:
Strength of Great Britain


Strength of Great Britain
Not counting the colonies, which
are virtually independent nations, the
British Isles have an area of 121, ,391
square miles and a population oil
45,221,165. The wealth of the islands
is estimated at $50, 900, 600, 900 and the
national debt is S3,4S5, 100000.
In it's war equipment Great Britain
relies on its great navy. which is ad-
mltted to be larger than the combined
naVies of any two other powers. 1t
has n battleships, AZ first-class cruis-
ers and about 400 other war vessels of
every description, manned by 137,500
men In peace or war, to which may be
added $4,000 naval reserves. Eng
lands army is large and well drilled,
but not to be compared in size with
the immense forces of the continental
nations, because Great Britain has no
compulsory military service, relying
solely on volunteers. It's army on a
war footing numbers about 500, 900
men, but this number includes many
who must stay in India and Egypt all
the time and therefore cannot get into
any European conflict
Strength of France
France mas an area OF 2O7,O54
square miles and a population of
39,601, 900. Its total wealth is esti-
mated at $4,000. 900, 900 and it's ma
tional debt is S6,2S3.OOO 900. France
has the largest national debt In Europe.
due to two reasons. First, because it
had to pay such an enormous war in
demnlty to Germany after the Franco
Prussian war, and, second, because il
has spent such enormous sums in the
last forty years in preparing for an
other war with Germany. In spite of
its huge debt France is the most pros
porous nation of Europe. Although
no exact figures are available, 1t is
estimated by economists that there is
a greater and more equal distribution
of wealth among the French than any
other people. The average Frenchman
is said to be richer and more con-
tented than any other man in the
world.
In proportion to her population
frances army is the largest in Europe,
although in actual numbers It is ex-
ceeded by the German and Russian.
Frances army on a war footing num-
bers 100000 men. They are the
same kind of men who followed Ma
poleon in his many victorious cam
palgns-enthusiasti patriotic, wild
ly demonsctrative. but the fercest of
nghters and the fastest of marchers.
The French navy ranks fourth in the
world, coming after Great Britain,
Germany and the United States. 1t
consists of 80 battleships, IS first-class
cruisers and more than 800 other YES
sells, and is manned by $4,000 men.
The French navy is expected to do its
pest work in the Mediterranean, leav-
ing the German forces to the care of
the British in the North Sea and the
Atlantic.
Strength of Russia
Russia has an area of 8,647,OO0
square miles and a population of
a66'OO0'000, It's total wealth is about
$4,000, 100000 and its national debt
is $4,553, 100000. Although Russia is
bigger in area and more numerous in
population than either France or Ger
many, 1t cannot be compared with
either In wealth or education. The
russian average man is the poorest in
the world, except, perhaps, the China
man.
Yet Russia has an enormous army.
the largest in the world, and q navy
that has considerable strength. Rus
sia's army numbers 5,500,0O0 men.
Part of this army was badly beaten by
the Japs only few years ago, but it is
said that the Russians learned much
from that war, and that their army has
improved wonderfully since its defeat
However, that is yet to be proved
The Russian navy consists of 21 bat
tleships and six first-class cruisers, as
we'll as about 200 other war craft. 1t
is expected that this navy will be able
TO crush Germany on the Baltic, pro-
vided England keeps the main part of
the Germany navy busy in the North
Sea and the Atlantic
When the European war started
Belgium was not considered factor
but so far this little nation has borne
the brunt of the war. In order to get
to France the German army has tried
to cross Belgium, regardless of that
nations protest. The result has been
that the Belgians were forced to fight.
and they have fought so we'll that the
Germans have been held back at Liege.
while the French are massing their
army.
Now that Belgium is definitely in