The Republican journal., 1917-06-14
WE MUST FIGHT BUT WE CAN WIN

We believe that many of our people are
harassed by fear that Germany will be
victorious. It may be that this is an OPP
perfume time to consider what the chances
really are. The issue or outcome of the
present war depends mainly upon four
great factors. First, the size of the
armies which the Allies and the Central
Powers can respectively raise and equip
with armament, munitions etc. Second,
the size and efficiency of the navies of
these opponents. Third, food for the
armies and the non-combatants Fourth,
. credit and money.
Armies must be recruited from the
people Hence the population of coun-
try seems to be proper basis for esti-
mating the fighting man power of that
country Leaving the United States and
Russia out of our calculations for the
present, let us consider the ultimate
fighting power of the nations now des-
perately engaged. The British can draw
recruits from about Go, 900, 900 of the vast
number of people over whom they have
dominion. The French can recruit from
100000, Italy from 32,OOO,0OO Poor
little Belgium threw every available man
of her 1000, 900 people into the breach to
save France and possibly England, and
what is left of her little army is fighting
now. She took the toll of war from
Germany in full measure and still de-
Germany can recruit from 10000, 600,
Austro-Hungary from 100000 and
Turkey from 30, 000,0 900 In the summary
the Allies above mentioned have popu-
lation of 1873, 900, 900, and the Central
Powers have IA, 100000 Without the
aid of Russia, or the entrance to the war
of the United States, exhaustion and
famine would finally bring peace with
out victory" Russia has a population
of 100000 She espoused the cause
of the Allies, but the Tar was traitor
and listened to the intrigues of the Ger
mans Russia is now seething with dis
sension and no potential aid from her, al
present, is probable. But the United
States has now aligned her 100, 900, OO(
people with the Allies, There are nov
238 000 600 of population who oppose IA,
600, 900 people of the Central Powers.
II the United States fights as she car
light, lights as she must fight if her pres
tige and honor are to be maintained
PTuSsianism is doomed.
The combined navies of the Allie.
and those of the Central Powers is a.
follows: The Allies have 1O5 moderr
battleships, the Central Powers have sc
OF older battleships the Allies have 35
the Central Powers 10; of first elias:
cruisers the Allies have rs, the Contra
Powers II; Of second class cruisers the
Allies have So, the Central Powers have
49, Of third class cruisers the Allies have
70, the Central Powers 80; of destroyer.
the Allies have $50, the Central Power.
1903; of topedo boats the Allies have 1853
the Central Powers 70. Germany is 81
overwhelmingly outclassed by the alice
navies that even the most chronic pessi
mist cannot persuade himself to believ,
that in naval warfare there is any prob
ability that Germany can ultimatel.
triumph.
Next to raising and equipping our army
production and conservation of food il
most important. A famished army can
not win victories and a furnishing peopl'
will inevitable clamor for peace. No
only must our army be fed and our HON,
supply maintained, but vast amount O
supplies must be sent to our allies Mucl