From ‘A Besieged Empire‘, The Spectator, 29 May 1915:
All that can be seen at the present moment is that the Germans seem to be capable of supplying themselves with all essential requisites in spite of the almost complete blockade maintained by their enemies. There is, however, one consideration which points clearly to their final failure unless that blockade be relieved. Their own resources in materials may be, on the hypothesis most favourable to them, ample, at any rate for a very long period; but their human resources certainly are not inexhaustible. This statement does not mean merely that the number of fighting men they can put in the field is less than that of their opponents, though here alone the disproportion is very great. The united populations of Germany, Austria, and Turkey are about one hundred and forty millions.

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