4. FIGHTING STRENGTH OF THZ NATIONS. Man-power.— The peace armies of the seven great powers before the opening• of the Great War in 1914 totaled less than 4,500,000, or about 12Y2 per cent of those finally engaged. If to these be added the trained re serves, then the available armies figure over 18,000,000, or nearly one-third of the final total of combatants and about that number were enrolled early in 1915. The best estimates obtainable are placed below.
If to these we add 117,000 for Belgium's brave little army, 500,000 for Rumania and Ser bia, and 500,000 for the smaller nations that came in later, we have a grand total of 5,500,000 for the armies before the war, on a peace foot ing. This total is an under-statement of the forces ready to fight because Germany had pre pared, and so had Austria-Hungary, and Russia was mobilizing very fast, so that these three very probably had another 5,500,000 under arms. France was not generally credited at that time with the totals here given, and she had prob ably not a fourth of them immediately avail able at the time of Germany's declaration of war, but they were in the service, and brought to duty with remarlcable celerity. In supplies of ammunition, the armies of the Central Powers were far the best equipped, and it was this superiority that enabled the Central Powers to take and hold the lead in the war for three years. Germany's trained reserves were actually in her army at the time of the Declaration of War, and by the time fighting was really begun she had 4,500,000 men in the ranks. Rus sia did the same thing, and within two months had as many or more troops than Germany; but they vt ere not as well positioned or as well commanded, and hence not nearly as effective. And further, the supplies of ammunition be hind them were inferior. By 1 Jan. 1915, France had 4,800,000 men enrolled, and Great Britain about 500,000. Austria's total at the same period wa,, over 2,000,000, so that 1915 opened with 11,000 000 men in the field for the Allies and about 8,000,000 for thc antral Powers.
Most of these were raised by conscription, though Great Britain adhered to the volunteer system for many months, and there were also many volunteers in the French and Belgian armies. The development of the armies in the leading nations is here summarized.
France.— Starting with 19 army corps and 800,000 mini, France rapidly enrolled her re serves and undertook intensive training of more men, raising her total to 5,000,000 within six months. The new recruits were arranged in four classes, and taken in as they were ready, and the army strength at its greatest was 6,300,000. More were enrolled, but the losses prevented the number from increasing.
Great Britain.— England's land forces at the outset were trifling, less than 200,000 being immediately available. By the fall of 1915 she was able to place in France 1,000,000 men, but it was not until the summer.of 1917 that she had 2,000,000 men in the fighting area. There was severe criticism of the slowness, and a new Mili tary Service Act was passed early in 1916, which provided for systematic conscription and de velopment of the army. In January 1918, the total of British and colonial troops was raised to 7,500;000, .of which England contributed 60 per cent, Scotland 8 per cent, Wales 3.7 per cent, Ireland 2.3 per cent, while the other 26 per cent was divided between Canada, India, Aus tralia, etc.
Italy.— Having 'had time to prepare, Italy came into the war with her standing army of 515,000, plus 245,000 mobile militia and 340,000 territorial militia. There was rapid develop ment and training, so that by the autumn of 1917 the Italian army totaled 3,500,0C°. This was gradually increased to 5,500,000, her great est total. In the last year of the war her losses were enormous, the wounded, dead, missing, and prisoners depriving her of over 2,000,000, so that at the time of the armistice she had but 2,800,000 under arms.