GERMANY'S MAN-POWER

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, 24 October 1916, Page 5

GERMANY'S MAN-POWER

The Rotterdam correspondent of the Daily Telegraph wrote to that journal on August 12:

From a trustworthy source I learn of two new measures suggesting the extent to which. Germany is drawing upon her man-power in order to endeavor to meet the strain imposed by the present and prospective struggle on all fronts. The first is the calling up of the miners, surface workers and others connected with the Westphalian colliery industry. Within certain ages these men had until . recently been exempted from military service, so that they might continue in work of vital importance. Now, however, a large proportion, to the number of about 150,000, have been called up, and are already in the depots. Their places have been filled by prisoners of war, disabled soldiers and women.

The other measure, though not of a formal character, is the putting of pressure on youths of eighteen to volunteer. These boys belong to the 1918 class, which has not yet been embodied; Whilst boasting of the latter fact, the Government is urging employers and others to "induce" the youths to volunteer at once.

Remarkable as these actions are, it would be rash to draw the conclusion, that Germany is yet short of men.

With all the existing pressure on west and east, extraordinary methods of economising men are being applied. It would be well to guard against it coming as a surprise if perhaps in the near future there should appear in -the field large forces for possession of which credit is not given at present. According to my information, the 1917 class —that is, men nineteen years old —though called lip a long time ago, is still in the depots. True, men of this age aiid some still younger have been taken prisoners, but these were those who volunteered before their class was embodied. The same applies probably to youths belonging apparently to the 1916 class who have been taken prisoners.

There is reason to believe that the German Staff is by these and other means seeking to disguise the available extent of the remaining man-power.