Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-11
Tho Vital Question of nInn.rowcr

W| AIRS cost is revealed in all its fright
w fulncss by figures which tell Of sacrifice
Of human life already made by France ans
Great Britain. Tho figures arc staggering in
their immensely, and measure OF consoa-
ton can be found only in tho knowledge that
they wero necessary to tho salvation OF
civilization threatened with extinction in tho
grasp of blood-mad Hun and in the further
khoWlcugo that losses equally tragic have
been wrought upon tho aggrcssors. Andre
Iardicu has swept aside tho veil which since
those early days OF the war in 1914 has
concealed from wondering and sympathetic
world the figures which symbolic what Ger
many's attempt at ACKNOWLEDGMENT has cost
France Berlin has boasted that France has
been bled white, and even it's allied peoples
have been amazed that it could maintain its
stanchncss in the face Of losses that must
have been tremendous. Tho facts arc told
now, not that they may bring sympathy
Franco does not need that; not In spirit
OF boasfulnesS what she has done
Franco does not boast, but that tho world
may know tho truth, and. knowing It, may
GRID up its loins for tho desperate fighting
fnat remains before victory is possible. a
iew months agD Franco would hardly have
dared to tell the truth as to her losscs-now,
with hundreds of thousands OF sturdy young
Americans rushing to her aid to repay the
debt OF love Of moro than century's stand
ing. she can fcarlcssly let her sunerings be
known.
On the field Of battle France has sacrificed
l'2Voooo OF her sons who have been killed
outright or fatally wounded. while the army
of her MANNED and invalided marshals n
million more. These figures include losses
on! up TO the opening OF the second battle
or tho Somme, in which tho slaughter per
hars, has been greater than in any other
engagement OF the war. In the years OF tho
war 100000 men have been taken from
rnT, ,nti
not been blcd white. She still covers her
bleeding heart with smile Of grim detormi
nation ana fights on. and will fight on TO tho
glorious end. Even in the face of sucb
sricvous losses in men and industry. she has
bcen able TO supply her allies with vast
quantities Of munitions and man-powcr where
needed. Could there be a moro brilliant
page il tho worlds history?
What Britain has lost has not vot been
to!d' but Lloyd George makes it un1nista,
nn! ciear that It's man-power has been sadly
unfinished. Already 100000 men have
heen raised for the British army and navy
ana now the demand for moro man-power
10 'r'oh'c so acute that ii is proposed to
raise the military age TO fifty-liye wears while
leaving not one man under twentv-Gyo ,a.rs
VINO Is physically capable Of bearing arms in
me industries Other nations fighting fo-
'"r aimed cause. it must he assumed have
suHered IN proportion, and their resources
~ man power are nearing the point OF ex-
n"us''on belgium fights on with its rem
hnnt or an army, Italy has suffered dccnjv
anu RUSSIA long ago ceased to be factor
Ihese conditions, as portrayed nv allied
"'atesi'ieh' bring home to America the mart
!. must play i'll defeating GERMANY The
l"i'eH states has the only resources in man
power as yet practically untouched Unon
II must rest the burden of furnishing tho
troops which will tip the balance arainst tho
neE, Today they are being rushed across
tnc,i;.;n as iast as limited transportation
'd'''it!cS VIII pertnit-and still grcoter sneo1
must be achieved if they are NOT n ho 80
."It' inc solemn hour of civilizations dns.
.."E IS AZ hand and America must not-will