The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-08-03
ELEVEN NATIONS NOW IN
Almost al! Lands Affected
Either Directly or Indirectly.
Millions of Men Have Been
Killed, Wounded or Carried
Into Captivity; All Nations
Disposed To Keep On

The second year of the European
war opens today On Aug. |. 1914.
Germany declared war against Russia
and thel ast chance vanished Of local
lZlnG the AuStro-S Serbian war, declared
three days previously by Austria
Hungary
All the great powers of Europe
were drawn into struggle the like
Of which history has not heretofore
recorded. Eleven nations are at war
and almost all lands are affected di-
rectly or indirectly Millions of men
have been killed, wounded or carried
to captivity in hostile countries Bill
| lions Of dollars have been expended.
| thousands of square miles of territory
| have beend evaStated and hundreds OF
| cities and towns laid waste. Half the
| world is in mourning for the dead.
And although the war has been in
progress with uneXampled fury for a
year, the result may be summarized in
one brief sentence: No decisive re-
suits have been achieved and the end
is not in sight
Fight to End.
| Determination pursue the war 10 a
decisive ending has been expressed by
high officials of all the belligerent ma
uons, preparations are being made for
next winters campaign, and, in fact.
indications from Europe are that it is
|
than decrease. 1t is still an open
question whether Bulgaria, Rumania
or Greece will be drawn in
In view of the immensely Of the
struggle. previous standards count for
little in considering the price the
world is paying. The figures involved
are so vast as to convey little mea n
ing. The nations at war have poured
out their treasures Of men and gold
without limit. The usual standards
Of life have been subordinated or dis
regarded, and in some cases social. in.
| dustrial and political activities have
been virtually reorganized on a mill
taristlc basis, TO make all contribute
to the supreme necessities OF war.
Z 1t is impossible to obtain accurate
statistics Of the number OF men en-
gagged, the casualties and the cost. For
S obvious reasons the size Of the various
, armies is kept secret. Most Of the
} nations do not consider it expedient to
f reveal the number Of casualties. ih
S fact. Great Britain is the only one
S which has given out official totals. Al
J, to the money expended. there arr
e available only partial statistics
: Half the World at War.
e More than half the population ol
, the world lives in the countries al
: war. The population of the warrins
, countries is estimated roughly al
i 947, 100000, and of the countrie;
/ at peace at 7s7, 900, 900. The populal
ton Of the Entente nations is perharE
: five times as great as that Of their OPP
e ponents- The number Of men unde1
e arms has been estimated various{y
e usually in the neighborhood OF 20.
s 600 900. William Michaelis, writing
e recently in a Berlin magazine, put th'
e number OF soldiers at war at 21,770,
G 900; for the Allies. 12,s20.ooo: fol
e Germany, Austria Hungary and Tur
e key $500
No previous war has approached
V the present one in wholesale destruc
| ton of life. This is due not only {!
q the number Of men involved. but 4
3 the terrible efficiency OF modern weap
e ons Trench warfare on q great scale
# with its deadly charges. mining opeE
Y ations and extensive use Of artiIler!
. and hand granades. has contributed Il
V this end Whereas in the past 1t hA.
e been calculated that the proportion
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