Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-17
Americas Mon Power.

By piecing together recent reports from the
War Department, one gets a striking picture of the
present and potential strength of Americas man
power. Upwards of two million men, including
those in Europe and those in training here, are
already with the colors. Besides these there are
about two million physically fit men left in Glass
One of the general registration of last June; and
there are between seven and eight hundred thou
sand who since that time have reached the Seective
Service age Thus we have a total of four million
seven hundred thousand men now available for the
army. The actual number is probably several
hundred thousand larger, because the estimates
here given are very conservative. Evidently then,
there will be difficulty, as far human
sources are concerned, in bringing the army's
strength up to the War Departments goal of three
million for the present year. In fact if the neces-
sary equipment and training facilities be pro-
vided. that goal be passed
AS for our potential man power, it should be
noted that every year between seven and eight
hundred thousand youths reach their majority and
become available, under recent supplements to the
National Army law, for seective service. Within
the next twelve months, therefore, can build
up the army of three million which the War De-
partment plans for 1918 and then have left mini
of two million four hundred thousand men
for the making of another army. That is to say,
by this time next year will have, including those
under arms and those registered, force of five
million four hundred thousand men without lower
ing the Selective Service age under twenty-one or
raising it above thirty By extending those
limits could easily muster upwards of ten mil
lion fit men.
The significance of these numbers will be bet
appreciated in comparison with those of Ger
many While official information this point
is available, trustworthy estimates credit Germany
with two hundred and fifty divisions, of some
twelve thousand men each OF these, there are sup
posed to be on the Western front about two hun
dred and five divisions, of whom probably one hun
dred and forty have been used in the present
offensive. But let US assume that Germany can
concentrate in the West her entire two hundred and
fifty divisions aggregating three million men. That
force will be equaled by the American army which
the War Department expects to have in hand within
the year, and will be exceeded by two million four
hundred thousand men, if we take into account the
total number of American soldiers that will be in
service and available by June, 1919 This calcula-
ton, it is true, makes allowance for fresh Ger
man increments but it makes deduction for
German losses, which have been enormous in the
Picardy and Flanders drive, the relative strength
we have ascribed the German and the American
forces is probably not far in error.
Now suppose that the French and British armies
on the Western front are at least as strong numer-
ically as those of the Human assumption alto
gether within the bounds of such information as
the public has to reason from. What will begin to
happen when the United States gets an army of
three million massed for action? If the Allied
lines are still unbroken will there not then come
an American drive such as the enemy cannot with
stand? Advices from Washington, unofficial but
reliable say that it is improbable that we shall
have at least two and a half million men in Europe
by next May. Here, then, is a fairly safe time on
which to fix expectation of a truly decisive
turn in the war-the beginning of the end. This
is not to imply that the end will be in sight by then
or by the following spring, for as far as we
now can see German mtarism must be crushed
utterly before it will surrender; and America and
her Allies afford to accept nothing less than a
complete, unconditional surrender. But however
long it may take to reach that end, its attainment
will be virtually assured when an army of between
two and half and three million Americans sup
ported by unbroken Franco-Brtish lines begins
striking.
This prospect gives for heady OPP
tmism; there are too many herculean labors along
the way and too many vast responsibilities upon the
American people for any to regard the future
with other than the gravest thought. But at the
same time, this magnificent array and reserve of
Americas man power, backed as it is by whole
nations material and moral strength, gives album
dant reason forsa steadfast and unshakabIe faith
in the victory of our righteous cause.