The vast majority belong to a cla.s.s we can depend upon. The others are a minority.

But, you must remember, a small minority of workmen can throw a whole works out of gear. What is the reason? Sometimes it is one thing, sometimes it is another, but let us be perfectly candid. It is mostly the lure of the drink. They refuse to work full time, and when they return their strength and efficiency are impaired by the way in which they have spent their leisure. Drink is doing us more damage in the war than all the German submarines put together.

D. LLOYD GEORGE AT BANGOR.

_February 28, 1915._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_The Crown Prince: "Isn't it an enjoyable war?"_

_William: "Perhaps, but hardly as much so as I antic.i.p.ated"_

To sum up, the German General Staff has placed upon its record since the beginning of the campaign--apart from the failure of its great plan, which aimed at the crushing of France in a few weeks--seven defeats of high significance, namely, the defeat of the sudden attack on Nancy, the defeat of the rapid march on Paris, the defeat of the envelopement of our left in August, the defeat of the same envelopement in November, the defeat of the attempt to break through our centre in September, the defeat of the coast attack on Dunkirk and Calais, and the defeat of the attack on Ypres.

_French Official report, February, 1915._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_A LETTER FROM THE GERMAN TRENCHES_

"_We have gained a good bit: our cemeteries now extend as far as the sea_"

The wastage of German effectives is easy to establish. We have for the purpose two sources--the official lists of losses published by the German General Staff and the notebooks, letters, and archives of soldiers and officers killed and taken prisoners. These different doc.u.ments show that by the middle of January the German losses on the two fronts were 1,800,000 men.

These figures are certainly less than the reality, because, for one thing, the sick are not comprised, and, for another, the losses in the last battle in Poland are not included. Let us accept them, however; let us accept also that out of these 1,800,000 men 500,000--this is the normal proportion--have been able to rejoin after being cured. Thus the final loss for five months of the campaign has been 1,300,000 men, or 260,000 men per month.

_French Government Official Report._ _March, 1915._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_NEUVE CHAPELLE_

_Order of the Crown Prince of Bavaria: "You must give those English heavy blows."_

_Tommy to prisoners after Neuve Chapelle: "Weren't they heavy?"_

Soldiers of the Sixth Army! We have now the good luck to have also the Englishmen opposite us on our front, troops of that race whose envy was at work for years to surround us with a ring of foes and to throttle us.

That race especially we have to thank for this war. Therefore, when now the order is given to attack this foe, practice retribution for their hostile treachery and for the many heavy sacrifices! Show them that the Germans are not so easily to be wiped out of history. Show them that, with German blows of a special kind. Here is the opponent who most blocks a restoration of the peace. Up and at him!

CROWN PRINCE RUPPRECHT.

After several days of severe fighting the British captured Neuve Chapelle, on the 11th March, 1915. The German loss was estimated at 18,000.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_THE MUNITION SHORTAGE_

_Fired at but unable to reply_

We have unfortunately found that the output is not only not equal to our necessities, but does not fulfil our expectations.... I can only say that the supply of war material at the present moment and for the next two or three months is causing me very serious anxiety, and I wish all those engaged in the manufacture and supply of these stores to realize that it is absolutely essential not only that the arrears in the deliveries of our munitions of war should be wiped off, but that the output of every round of ammunition is of the utmost importance and has a large influence on our operations in the field.

LORD KITCHENER.

_House of Commons, March 15, 1915._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_SUBMARINE BAGS_

On March 18 a month had pa.s.sed since the beginning of our sharp procedure against our worst foe. We can in every way be satisfied with the results achieved in the meantime! In spite of all steps taken before and thereafter, the English have everywhere had important losses to show at sea--some 200 ships lost since the beginning of the war, according to the latest statements of the Allies.

In the innocent exalted island kingdom many a fellow is already striking; why should not even the recruit strike, who is also beginning to get a glimmer of the truth that there are no props in the ocean waves?

The more opponents come before the bows of our ships and are sunk, the better! Down with them to the bottom of the sea; that alone will help!

Let us hope that we shall soon receive more such cheerful news.

VICE-ADMIRAL KIRCHOFF.

_Hamburger Framdenblatt._ _March 19, 1915._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

"_I had such a delightful dream that the whole thing was not true_"

The strategic retreat of the French Army, the facility with which the German armies were able to advance from August 25 to September 5, gave our adversaries a feeling of absolute and final superiority, which manifested itself at that time by all the statements gleaned and all the doc.u.ments seized.