Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 302, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1917 — STRENGTH OF THE WARRING POWERS [ARTICLE]

STRENGTH OF THE WARRING POWERS

Statistics Show Huge Preponderance in Favor of the • Entente. ♦ WORLD HAS A GREAT TASK To Nullify the Plana of the Kaiser la ■ Large Oraer—Strength in Wealth •nd Man Power of Nationa at War Compared. I II New York. The comparative strength of the allies and the central powers is graphically shown by “The Balance Sheet of the Nations at War,” which has just been compiled by the Bankers Trust company. "The world has a great task still before it in order to nullify the plans of the Hohenzollems,” says the Introduction. “The task must not be belittled, but it is at least interesting to see resources existing successfully to accomplish this task, provided that the nations of the world now opposed to Germany continue to co-operate Intelligently and loyally until Germany and her allies have been absolutely defeated and their plans of world dominion rendered permanently Ineffective.” Figures showing, for both sides, the combined area, income and interest charge, and cost of the war in treasure and men, are presented with the explanation that they have been gathered with great care from the “best available sources” and are believed to “reflect with substantial correctness the relative economic strength of the opposing groups of nations,” although It is Impossible to vouch for their absolute accuracy. Controlled by Allies. The allies. Including the United States, are shown, by this tabulation, to control 19,526,000 square miles of the earth’s surface, or 94.1 per cent of the total area held by the nations at war, as compared with 1,222,000 square miles, or only 5.9 per cent held by the Teutonic combination. The aggregate population of the allies, exclusive of the large Asiatic population tributary to the British empire, reaches the huge total of 473,250,000, or 76.3 per cent of the total of warring peoples, while that of the central powers is but 147.000,000. or 23.7 per cent. Without counting Asiatics and Africans, the allies have available for military service 91,700,000 men. or 78.5 per cent of the total possible fighting men. while the Teutonic powers can command but 25,050,000, or 21.5 per cent. The number of men actually enrolled in the armies and navies of the allies is 21,400,000, or 66 per cent of the total, while the enrolled military strength of the Teutonic allies is 11,000,000, or 34 per cent, as shown by the following table:

The aggregate national income of the allies is placed at $82,100,000,000 and the interest charges each year at $3,891,000,000, which is 4.6 per cent of the Income, while the combined income of the Teutonic alliance is estimated to be $16,600,000,000, and interest charges $1,970,000,000, which 18 11.8 per cent of the Income. Regarding the cost of the war a table is presented showing that the allies have spent $72,200,000,000, or 64.1 per cent of the total cost of all warring nations, while Germany and her allies have spent $109,500,000,000, or 35.9 per cent. In killed, wounded and missing the conflict has cost the allies 8.992,956 ; men, or 58.7 per cent of the total hu- j man losses, while it has cost the cen- . tral powers 6,301,773, or 41.3 per cent of the total of 15.2Q4.729 for last Sep- | tember. In the introduction to the balance I sheet it is pointed out that, while the exact figures are not available, it is a well-known fact that the surplus food producing sections of the world , nre practically controlled by the entente allies, either directly or through , their control of the seas. The same is true, to a great extent, of territories j producing metals and coal. “Japan has not yet been an active factor in the European theater of the : war,” comments the pamphlet. “It has, however, effectually guarded the Pacific ocean. It has enrolled in.its army about 1,500,000 men. out of an effective man power of 10,500,000. The entire army and navy, as weH as the unenrolled man power, may be said to, be still in reserve. “While Russia has nominally about 5,000,000 men enrolled in Its army and navy, it still has an enormous reserve, as the total number of men ayailable for military purposes aggregates around 30,000,000. Russian Situation Grave. “The extreme gravity of the present situation in Russia is, therefore, apparent, especially when it is borne in mind that, if Germany can gain control of Russia or force a separate peace with Russia, even if Russia remained thereafter simply neutral, it would be possible for Germany to draw therefrom an enormous quantity of foodstuffs and the raw material for munitions of war. On the other hand, if Russia can be kept in line with the entente allies, it would seem that the Teutonic allies must be compelled to capitulate, al a reasonably early date, from sheer exhaustion. “While considering the danger points we must not overlook the fact of the virulence of the Teutonic submarine campaign. It is Impossible, however, to present figures In this connection which have statistical value. “The fact should not be lost sight of that Germany now controls Belgium, northern France, Serbia, Roumanla. Montenegro, and a large portion of Poland, having a combined population of about 32,300,000. It is true that

FIGHTING STRENGTH. Army-Navy. Pct. Original Man Present Present * • Power Present Man Estimated Man 18 to 45. Power. Strength. Power. Entente Allies and the United States: United Kingdom 12.000,0001 8,000,000 | Canada, Newfoundland, Australia, New r 13,800,000 r 49.71 Zealand, Union of South Africa 3,220,000 > 860,000 Tn-anpp 9,000,000 6,500,000 3.000,000 46.1 f tal _ 8.000,000 7.700.000 3,000,000 38.9 T a0 an.'...... 10,500.000 10,500,000 1,500,000 14.2 Portugal 1,200,000 1,200,000 400,000 33.3 United States' ” 22,000,000 22.000,000 1,640,000 7.4 Russia (excluding Poland) .' 34,000,000 30,000,000 5,000,000 16.6 Tota i 99,920,000 91,700,000 21,400,000 23.3 AlUe ’ : 14,000,000 9,400,000 6,100,000 64.9 * •Austria-Hungary" 12.000,000 11,150,000 3,400,000 30.5 JlVrkev 4,000,000 3,500,000 1,000,000 28.6 •Bulgaria 1,000,000 1,000,000 500,000 50.0 Total 81.000,000 • 25,050,000 11,000,000 48.9 Per cent Per cent Per cent. Entente Allies and United States 76 3 78.5 66.0 •Teutonic Allies - 23 7 21.5 84.00 •Figures for these countries especially unreliable.

The combined national wealth of the allies is estimated at $553,000,000,000, or 80.5 per cent of the total of the nations engaged In the present conflict, while the wealth of Germany •anfi her allies Is placed at $134,000,000,0Q0, or 19.5 per cent. Contrasted with this Is the national debt of the allies, $83,960,000,000, or 14.7 per cent of their aggregate wealth, and the combined debt of the Germans and their allies, $38,500,000,000, which is 28.7 per Tent of their aggregate wealth. The figures for the various countries are found in the following table:

men of ail these nations are serving in the armies of the entente allies, and that Belgium is maintainingan independent army of moderate size. The control of these countries, especially Belgium, and northern France, has* given Germany a great advantage because of the supplies of coal and iron ore thus made available, and also because of the ability thus obtained to turn to use the factories of the manufacturing sections in making munitions of war. “Just at the critical moment, when the scales were almost evenly balanced between the entente allies and

WEALTH AND DEBT. -- ' . Pct. of National National Debt to Wealth. Debt. Wealth. (entente Allies and United States: United Kingdom ' 8 85,000,000,000 823.500,000,000 2T.6 Canada x ( 1.100.600,000 Newfoundland f .x.. j I 35,000,000 Australia I 65.000.000,000 j 795.000,000 ’ M Union of South Africa..., ’ 800,000,000 I Total British Colonies.,... 3,560,000,000 I.. 25,000.000,000 a 6,000,000,000 24.0 I_ta,y 1 _ ta,y 28,000,000,000 1,300,000, OX) 4.6 i «.i 5,000,000.000 1,100,000,000 22.0 rCmU (excluding-Poland)..’. 58,000,000,000 24,000,000,000 41.4 Tot<l 8553,000,000,000 883,960,000,000 14.7 Teutonic Allies: rs. 8 82, 000,000,00« 820,000.000,000 24.4 Germany 40,000,000,000 16,000,000,000 40.0 Austria-wungn. J 8,000,000,000 1,500.000,000 15.7 Bulgaria