New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-07
Present British Armies Called
Best Trained Troops in Europe
Ktcbeners Levies After Two Years of Development
Accelerated Under Stress of War Conditions Are
Proving Their Splendid Mettle

successfully b. themselves. and tnat
England must be prepared 20 furnish
an army on the Continental scale, y
addition 20 the greatest navy and the
largest share Of expenditure.
Territorials Won Praise
The Second British army was pro-
,ided by the territorial force. the OIL
GERS and men % which had had some
training. often cons iderable amount,
before the war. and therefore could De
made g for war in a shorter period
than was required for the new armies
which had only been raised since Au-
gust. 1914. In the spring Of 1915 the
territorials began 20 20 out num-
bers. By the autumn they could stand
comparison with the regulars, and
no troops earned higher praise thar
the London division a. the battle o.
Loos
But the bulk OF the British arm ies
IS they now are IS composed OF the
new leyies which began 20 be raised IN
1914. IN response 20 Lord Kitchener
auDeal. and those contlngents rom
overseas which Canada. Australia. New
Zealand and South Africa mad sent. J.
IS on these new armies and their quai-
itv that the reputation OF England :
contribution 20 the land war ~ -
later stages must rest. i they nad
failed. however excellent had been tne
work OF the small regular army. how
ever creditable the performance Of the
territorials. England could not have
borne a part N the war on land pro-
portionate 20 her strength and popula-
ton.
II was the fashion n Germany 20
cultivate contempt OF the new Brush
armies and 20 say that they could never
be Of serious value. though u Is 20 De
observed that. even at the height OF
the lighting before Verdun, the great
General staff never ventured 20 weaken
their forces in the front o. these
armies which they affected 10 desplse
Yet sober reflection would show that
there is no reason why these armies
should not be efficient, and much res-
son why they should. In peace time
two years has been accepted as SUI
fcent TO give a thorough training 20
the German soldier. Under stress or
war. and when the lighting IS Of spe-
cialzed kind. new 20 all parties, much
shorter period should suffice. Il the ma
terial IS good. When the sighting on
the Somme began, the troops composing
the new British armies had probably
had from twelve 20 twenty months
strenuous training. much OF y IN the
trenches. and the overseas contingents
had already proved their splendid
metal. the Canadians az Ypres. the New
Zealanders in Gallipoli and South
Africans IN Southwest Africa. The ma
terial was that which had proved Itself
so formidable on many fields Of battle
from Crecy 20 lnkerman, and u u no,
surprising that these new armies have
shown themselves the equals Of the
best troops
Trained Troops Going Out
So II will be 20 the end OF the war.
Not rev leyies, but trained soldiers
are going out. month by month, as they
are required: and only b. depreciating
their own troops can German writers
now say that the British armies are OF
no value.
From the sumner OF 1915 onward
the British armies in the field have been
on the Continental scale, a. fully
trained as any other troops row en-
gagged Fighting In France. IN Mace
donia. in Nesopotamia. IN Egypt, r
Africa and in China, they cannot be
said not 20 be doing their full share.
Great Britain's contribution 70 the Al
lied cause has been a navy that con
trolls the seas, an army Of millions
money and munitions commensurate 70
her wealth and strength. and deter
rl7ation % see lis war. begun az the
call Of honor ried through 20 it
end