The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-08-25
RIMOR THE TRAVELLER.

Christian Science Monitor: The In
genious stories put into circulation by
the enemies Of the allies in different
parts Of the world, are so many and
so various that II is difficult TO keep
track Of them Some OF them are, how
Iever, Of course, more venomously foolish
than others, and as these are apt TO
deceive the unwary. II Is perhaps as
well Immediately TO expose them, before
they can accomplish the harm intended.
Such story Is that which has been
industriousiy circulated, in some parts
OF the United States, TO the effect that
the British military auihoilllts are re-
tanning at home a huge staniing army,
sometimes put as high az three millions
Of men, and that until these have been
placed i'm the field no Uultcd States
troops should be sent to France. such
a statement is so utterly silly, on the
| contradiction. A very mild effort Of
arithmetic ought 20 be sufficient 10 con.
vince anybody OF the nonsense OF it,.
| England Is, Of course the training
ground for the British armies which are
ultimately sent TO the front But the
population Of the United Kingdom was
estimated just before the war at forty.
six millions. II this number is cut in
two TO delete the women, who. OF course,
are in the majority. and If from the
balance be subtracted the children and
those outside the military age to say
nothing of the enormous numbers com.
| pulsorily retained in the munition fac.
tories, coal mines, railways and other
such services, to say nothing OF the navy
and the carrying trade, II must be oh.
vious that an army OF about five mil.
lion men is the utmost that could be
recruited
The war has now been going on for
three years. During that time the
British empire has sent a considerable
army into Mesopotamia; a considerable
army into Egypt and to Palestine: and
"A considerable army to Gallipon, the
remnants OF which were afterwards
transferred TO Salonika, where they
have been largely strengthened by new
battalions from England. In order 20
bring them up 10 their present strength.
In addition to this, Great Britain has
sent an enormous army TO France. and
has practically taken over the line from
the English channel 20 st. Quentin. or
a huge stretch OF the entire front. when
the armies holding this line are calcu.
lated In connection with the others. and
when from the sum total Of avail.
able men there are deducted the terrible
lists OF killed and wounded during the
three years that have passed. the
ludicrousness OF the charge that there
are three millions, or anything approach.
ing three millions Of men. left In Eng.
land, who are available for the front.
is exposed in its native maliciousness.
though, OF course, that viii not prevent
II from being said, or repeated. or be.
lieved by anybody who desires to do so.
The simple fact is that England. trust.
Ing 90 her fleet for her own protection.
has largely denuded her coasts OF troops
In order that every man available may
be sent TO the actual firing line. a
certain number OF men have 10 be re.
tanned as a nucleus Of defending army
and 10 stiffen. in an emergency, the bat.
talions Of recruits who are steadily be.
ing drilled to re.enforce the armies on
the continent AZ the same time. sup.
posing that England, who has sent mil.
lions OF men to the front, and whose
casualty lists are the most complete an.
swer, by reason OF the mere proportion
they reveal OF troops employed. to fab.
ricatcd stories such as the one under
review, were to retain a large army at
home. for defensive purposes, would Il
be a legitimate argument that until the
last man had been sent TO the front.
the United States should not put any
soldiers In the fieldg
II need not be said that no responsi.