The Washington times., 1915-11-25
THE KITCHENER PROMISES

Lord Kitchener, it is reported from
Athens, told the Greek authorities
that the allies will have 100000
British troops, completely equipped,
in the field next March, and that by
that time they will be ready to
provide every detail .of equipment
for 100000 Russians. Russia has
called its millions for service, and If
it be true that the united efforts of
the munitions makers Of the world,
outside Germany and Austria, are
now equal to the task Of keeping
these huge forces not only in the
field but in condition for continuous
operations, it may be assumed that
the time is at hand when the central
empires will be definitely over
matched in both numbers and ma
terial resources.
That Britain will have 100000
men in the field ready for business
next March, assumes that by that
time the empire will have raised and
equipped all of 100000; for losses
of all kinds will by that time have
accounted for million. There will
be small Justification for the charge
that Britain is not doing her duty;
for the navy demands vast force,
and the civilian occupations which
maintain it, and which must be
manned to the top notch in order to
provide munitions and supplies for
army, navy, and in part for Russia
and France, account for millions
more. Britain is getting her fight
ing clothes on.
kitchener's forecasts have never
been overstatements. From the be-
ginning he has indulged no boasts.
Rather, his effort has been to keep
Britain in mind of the seriousness
and bigness of the task before her.
A year ago he didn't know when the
war would end; he did know that it
had not yet fairly begun, and would
not for several months. Events have
borne out that prediction.
If it be assumed that the promise
Of 100000 British troops and 6,00O,-
900 Russians by March is accurate,
then it may be expected that France
will have at least as many men in
the field as Britain, which makes a
total of 100000. Italy's quota is
rather vaguely understood. but
Italy's concern about the near east
ern situation has forced her to ex-
treme measures 70 make the best
possible demonstration of power.
Without doubt she will be prepared
to add two millions more to the
total; while from sources which
make it constantly more convincing,
come assurances that Japan is ready
to put a million soldiers into the
European field if necessary. Thus
there can be counted ,on paper, some
thing like 100000 soldiers under
the colors of the allies.
Can Germany and Austria match
this showing? 1t does not seem
possible, considering their terrific
losses, their vastly less human re-
sources, the constantly increasing
pressure upon them to employ large
forces in maintaining their economic
position under the peculiar disad-
vantages that surround them. Ger
many and Austria have between
them about l2O,OOO,OOO population.
The white population Of the British
Empire matches that of Germany;
France matches Austria. There re-
main Russia, with something like
l20, 0,000.00O; Italy with near 10000
900; Japan with $4,000. 900. In other
words, the allied powers have near
three times the population Of Ger
many and Austria; much more than
twice that of Germany, Austria, and
Turkey. To keep their soldiers
equipped and their people at home
fed. the allies have the world on
which to draw: it's industries, its
agriculture, its human factors.
1t is difficult, facing such a view
of the war as a world affair, to be-
lieve that battles won by dint of the
special preparedness Of the central
powers will be decisive in the early
stages. The Kitchener statement
suggests most graphically what must
be the position in a contest of at
triton. 1t becomes a question OF
the time and the losses, more than OF
the final outcome.
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