The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-19

withdraw troops both from the east
ern lines and from the depots In the
interior OF the country.
Finally the Russians held. at the
height of their military power. pris-
oners estimated at close on 100000.
Probably this estimate is excessive.
for from the beginning Russian
travellers have reported that German
prisoners were constantly escaping.
1t is supposed In these same calcutta
ton that about 100000 OF these pris-
oners are Germans.
Suppose peace be made with Russia
and these prisoners be released. What
proportion OF them will be available
for militarv service in time to increase
the strength of the central empires?
People talk as IL the entire 2 900, 000
might be almost instantaueously added
TO the fighting capacity OF Germany
and Austria, but that of course Is
sheer nonsense. The best authorities
assume that possibly three-ouarters OF
a million will ultimately be available,
provided they are feed. and when.
despite the great difficulties OF Rus
sian transportation, they can, be re-
patriated in Germany and Austria.
Much more likely II will be next spring
at the earliest before even quarter
of million of them can be made mill
tlTN AhAitaDlF, anu EOEtlS hlNSt
that before another quarter of mill
I lion will be disable.
About 500, 900 Available.
But assuming that 100000 meH
can be drawn from the Austro-Ger-
man divisions which few months ago
were on the eastern 'front.' and that
100000 can be drawn from the prison
camps in Russian. then 1900, 900
men would appear to be available for
service in Italy, in the Balkans and
on the western front. within say the
next eight months. And again. u must
he recalled that already the entente
forces are probably slightly outnum-
bered on both these fronts.
What is TO be done about II? The
first thing obviously IL TO give every
possible encouragement to efforts for
the restoration OF order In Russia. 80
withdraw too many troops from the
eastern lines. The second thing is TO
increase the British army Just as much
as possible by tapping every resource
OF man power that has not been work
ed to the fullest extent, and the third
is 10 hurry re-enforcementS from
America.
The Germans understand this as
well as ANYBODY else does, and their
game is to hasten their military opera
lions in the hope OF forcing q deci-
sion before the Americans can get 20
the front In fact. they have a double
part 20 play: with the submarines. in
order tn increase the difficulty OF
bringing the American troops and
suppl es, and AT the same time feed
ing Britain and France; and 10 force
their military operations while the
odds are most strongly In their favor.
Why Germans Force Fighting.
II becomes an important question
then, at what approximate date the
central empires wifi be able, through
peace intrigues with Russia, the repa-
triation OF prisoners. and the with
drawal Of depot troops for service az
the front. to bring their strength 20
its maximum as compared 20 the
strength OF the entente countries. II
II Is going to take n considerable time
for the Germans TO get their prisoners
freed anh organized into effective milf
tary forces IL is also going TO take a
long time for Britain TO perfect the
organization Of It's last reserves OF man
power.
Thg~e seems 10 be n pretty general
impression among those hest informed
that Germany expects the situation TO
he most favorable to II shortly after
the rHEfnNtnG OF the new year POS
sibly about February 1. Therefore, the
general belief that more and more
persistent hard fighting will be done
thie winter than In any other winter
since the war started: the Germans
realize the necessity Of forcing mat
tiers.
The best that America can reason
ably hope TO accomplish between now
and next summer In TO bring enough
soldiers 20 balance of the increases In
Austro-Gerraan electives by reason
OF the Russian disaster
Along with these military considera-
tons we ght also must he given TO the
great changes that will take place in
the economic positions OF the swo
sides.
Food Situation Changes
Britain has been slow 20 realize
rnd slower 20 admit. but II Is now be-
ginning TO make the confession. that
I'm the matter of food and some other
though much less I'm pcrtant supplies
time r. now beginning to night on the
side OF Germany and against the en-
tente; whereas formerly time was al
ways accounted the ally OF the en-
tente. The Germans are preparing to
make the most of the Italian agrf-
cultural areas which they have con-
QuSrEG TO produce EluEe 1000 TOT AUS
tria and Germany. BY the 1918 crop
season they will he able to produce
very largely from the conquered areas
OF Old Poland, Roumania, France and
Belgium.
Further their human power for the
purposes OF this production will be In
creased not only nv the release OF hun
freds of thousands OF prisoners useful
enough for agricultural purposes IL
not for further military service. but
also by the privilege OF drtwing upon
teh labor capacity of the conquered
areas. The moment that peace or
even n long armistice Is arranged with
Russia. GERMANY will resume with all
the zeal which it's peculiar necessities
dictate. the programme of penetrat.
ing Russia and making Russian re-
sources available for the support of
Germany.
So that Britain. France and Italy.
none of them now able to produce
nearly all their food requirements
confront a future in which their food
necessities will tend TO face an In
creasi1g deficit OF supplies. In proper |
ton as the cumulative effects of sub
marine warfare become more seri-