WHAT MUST BE DONE

Published Oct 15, 1914
Aylmer Express Newspaper

An American Newspaper’s Opinion of the Situation.

It is inconceivable that Great Britain and France should allow Germany to win. To do this would be national suicide. It is absolutely a life-and-death fight for both of them.

Great Britain has 45,000,000 people in the British Islands. If she sends into the field one-eight of her population, she should put at the front over 5,000,000 soldiers. In addition to this there are 15,000,000 people in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the other colonies. Altogether Great Britain should be able to put into the field 6,000,000 soldiers. She has the money to clothe and arm this number and the command of the sea to feed them.

France has 39,000,000 people, and if she should put 2 ½ percent of her population into camp, she would have nearly 5,000,000 soldiers. Furthermore, owing to the French military system of universal service and retirement in the reserves, a great portion of these must have more or less military education and discipline, and be ready to impart it to others.

Next comes the question of how long Germany can stand this awful strain. To put a vast army into the field Germany has had to paralyze her industry, halt agriculture and bring to a standstill much if not most of the ordinary operations of life. This immense army must be fed, supplied with ammunition and its communications maintained. How long can she stand this? If the French and English show anything like the spirit of the Belgians, the Germans cannot possibly escape a ruinous defeat.