Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-09-17

field. The allotment - divided al
most equa ,ly between Canada and the
Australian and New Zealand COM
mouwealths. South Africa furnishing
two divisions. 1t would appear then,
that Sc divisions of l,12O,0OU men
represent the fighting strength of the
empire. figure requiring some qua1-
fication, because not all OF the prom-
Used colonial divisions have yet ap-
pe6red on the firing line.
II is only possible to give roughly
the distribution Of the British forces
in the different theatcrs of war There
arc I'm France So British divisions,
containing l,10O 600 men, approx
mately 10 divisions, or 100000 men.
at Salonica, divisions. or 10000
men. I'm Mcsopotamia, and , divisions,
or 10000 men. H. German East
Afiica This enumeration accounts
for IS divisions. and the eight diVi-
siCns missing from the empires war
strength of Sc divisions are not yet AT
the front. II Is not claimed that the
avporti onment IS exactly correct IT
II were trouble might result for the
writer have given the approximate
distribution only in tho hope of dis
abusing the readers mind Of the alb
surd legend current In America that
England has 1000. 900, or even 5000. =
GOO combatant troops on the French
front
England Has Responded.
Compared with the great French
army holding most OF the western
front and with the legions OF Russia
and Germany, IL does not seem nj first
Glance that the British empire, with
it's enormous available man power.
has cone as well rs It's friends ana
enemies. The policy of restricting the
size of the field armies, however, was
deliberately adopted by the war coun-
ell It wear ago in the belief that in the
end It would prove most efficient
Lord Kitchener is universally given
credit for the scheme as il was adopt
ed then and is being worked out to-
day
Lord Kitchener from the beginning
was satisfied that Germany would
hive the best of the opening phase
Cr the war. and must be gradually
worn down and beaten by policy OF
attrition lie accordingly resolutelN
opposed the plans OF some soldiers
and many politicians to form a great
army of 125 divisions o. more which
should have taken the field. half
trs ined and unsupported by compe-
tent reserves. last spring and ms
summer. The debate I'm the secret
councils of 1915 centecod on whether
by such an effort II would be pOssiu Il
to crl'sh Germany in tho 1916 cam
paign. It was obvious that II the cf.
Fort was made and failed there would
be no men to FIJI the saps and the
military organization OF the empire
would be unable to carry out a sue
oessful offensive in 1917. Kitchener
with the support OF Gen. Sir Archiba't
( Murray. then chief OF the imperia
general staff, and later of his success
sor. Sir William Robertson, contendet
| that Il victory in 1919 wNs impossible
| ard that the army must he organizof
| for q longer war. His argument
won. and time has proved linn right
| Tho government was faced las
year with the fact that 6.00O.O0I
armed men represented tho extreme
limit Of the empires resources, !
cr"dit and the navy were to he main
tanned. To those counselors wh'
wished to rush through conscripto'
and put aa many men as possible II
France Kitchener retorted that tn
side witch could keep its army power
ful and efficient longest would win
He brought forward the plan for
field army OF 81 divisions. supporte
bv reserves calculated to main'Hi
end Of 1918, even though the unit
| iosi 1o0 per cent a year and had
he entirely repla In other words
Pr'tain had at the beginning Of IN
1919 campalgn twice as many reserve
IN she had soldiers in the field. Fac
field battalion has Il reserve battalo