The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-01-29
Munitions. Not Men, Need of
European Powers in Reinforc-
Ing Armies
xTTCHENER'S MILLION
READY TO FIGHT
Germany Ready to Meet It Man
For Man, According to Pres
emit Figures
sy ]. w. r. MASON,

NDOfnSf european manager - Eno
United Prsss-)
NEW YORK. Jan. 29.--Nsxt week
Win see the nrgt units of the new
rmies that have completed their SIX
uonths' training move TO the front.
"a preparation for the second offensive
phase or the war. How the proper
lon OF lighting strength will result
when both sides have completed their
feiDforcing movements can only be
Roughly Appropriated. The basic data
10 not relate to men, but TO munitions.
All the nations at war are feeling the
Itrains OF supplying the enormous
liabilities OF war stores their armies
demand. and all have more men than
Equipment. The problem OF estimat-
ing what the new fghting strength OF
The rival forces will be In the spring,
3, therefore, complicated by the In
Ability Of the worlds wsr factories to
Keep up the killing pace Of the battle
iaids.
The only oficial figures of present
fombatants are those issued by the
French war office last month, which
gave 2.236.0 900 al the German strength
n the west, and $4,000 as the Ger
man strength In the east. Both Eng.
ish and French Official reports have
confessed that the German western
armies are numerically stronger than
fhe allies, but not how much stronger.
rfe London war ONCE, however, has
announced there are now four British
Rrfhies In France. The strength OF q
British army probabl. Is two army
forps OF $4,000 men each. This would
make the British strength on the con.
tnent 100000. II possible the Bel
gians have been able to replace casual
lies to the extent Of keeping up their
strength to $4,000. The French
ftrcngtb cannot be greater than 1,700,.
poo because Of the equipment problem.
fnd may not be as much as this, At
most, therefore, the western allies
bow have 2,030.000 troops. or, fully
Equipped 100000 less than the Ger
man strength In the west.
Kftchener's new army Of q million
men ought 10 be fully equipped by the
Bring, but " II improbable the
French will be able TO add greatly to
their own forces. Filing the depleted
French ranks has undoubtedly made
heavy demands on Frances trained
men. The French force probably can
not be Increased more than zoe, 900 by
the spring. making the total number
of the allies In the west about $780,
boo.
II u reasonable to sssume that Ger.
many can meet this new force man
Tor man. But, II will not be necessary
Tor her to do so II purely defensive
csr- paign Is decided upon, since the
allies have been able to hold their
own with numerical inferiority. Ger.
many probably will consider herself
CAPABLE OF the meeting the allies s.
100000 troops with no more than g..
e0a.eoo.
This spring campaign in the west,
therefore. may see 100000 men pit
ted against each other. The eastern
situation may develop so as to compel
Germany to deplete still further her
western lighting force. and this ID,
In fact, the unknown part OF the prob
lem. To Germany's present eastern
strength Of $4,000 must be added
probably 100000 Austrisns, making
a total Of 2,424.c00.
Russia probably has approximately
the same number. Austria and Ger.
many may be able TO raise their Joint
strength to 100000 men by spring.
Whether Russia can surpass this Is
improbable, but the matter IL not GER
tain. II the SlaYs can do no more
than equal the strength of the Teu-
topic alliance there will be total of
100000 men In the eastern battle
lines. excluding the Turkish and Ser
Wan campaigns. Possibly 100000 more
men win be under arms there. The
completed total of fighting men this
spring may see at all thief ronts is,
therefore. approximately IL nm mn