Up to this point there can be little difference of opinion.  From this point on, however, I must, like others who deal with the subject, make estimates upon data obtained.  During my last visit to Germany I systematically employed a rough check on the figures derived through the usual channels.  Concentrated effort to obtain first-hand information in city, village, and countryside, north, east, south, and west, with eyes and ears open, and vocal organs constantly used for purposes of interrogation, naturally yielded considerable data when carried over a period of ten months.  The changes from my last visit and from peace time were also duly observed as were the differences between Germany and the other nations I had visited during the war.  Walking, of which I did a colossal amount, was most instructive, because it afforded me an opportunity to study conditions in the villages.  Discreet questioning gave me accurate statistics in hundreds of these that I visited, and of many more hundreds that I asked about from people whom I met on my travels.  For example, in Oberammergau, which had at the beginning of the war 1,900 inhabitants, about 350 had been called to the Colours when I was there, and of these thirty-nine had been killed.

My investigations in the Fatherland convinced me that of the 3,000,000 men between 18 and 45 formerly engaged in agriculture, considerably fewer than 100,000 continue to be thus occupied.  This work is done by prisoners and women.  Mine and metal work have kept from 60 to 70 per cent. of their men of military age; but transport, already cut somewhat, lost 25 per cent. of the remainder when Hindenburg assumed supreme command, which would reduce 650,000 to about 300,000.  More than 90 per cent. of those engaged in the preparation of food and the making of clothing have been called up.  Thus of the 6,050,000 engaged in the occupations given above, about 1,750,000 remain, which means that more than 4,000,000 have been called to the Colours.

From building and allied trades at least 90 per cent. are in military uniform.  Assuming that some 2,000,000 men of military age are included in indispensable engineers, fishermen, chemists, physically unfit, and so forth, we conclude on this basis that Germany can enrol in her Army and Navy more than 11,000,000 men.

We may approach the subject from a somewhat different angle by considering what percentage of her total population Germany could call to the Colours under stress—­and she is to-day under stress.  Savage tribes have been known to put one-fifth under arms.  An industrial State such as Germany cannot go to this extreme.  Yet by using every means within her power she makes a very close approach to it.  In practically every village of which I secured figures in Saxony, Bavaria, Posen, East Prussia, West Prussia, Pomerania, Mecklenburg, and Oldenburg, a fifth or nearly a fifth have been called up.  In some Silesian and Rhenish-Westphalian districts, however, not more than from a seventh to a tenth.  If we allow for all Germany a little less than one-sixth, we get 11,000,000.