Let us then, at this particular moment, dwell, above all, on the thing achieved.  To that end, a few colossal figures must still be added to those already given.  Since the beginning of the war, the total forces employed by the British Empire in the various theatres of war, have amounted to a total of eight million, six hundred and fifty-four thousand (24 per cent of the total white male population), of which the United Kingdom supplied 5,704,416 (25.36 per cent), and the Dominions, and Colonies, 1,425,864.  The Indian and Coloured troops amounted to 1,524,000.  If the Navy, the Merchant Service, and the men and women employed in various auxiliary military services at home are added, the total recruiting effort of the Empire reaches to much more than ten millions.

As to the financial part of this country in the war, by March 22nd, 1919, the war expenditure of Great Britain had reached a total of L9,482,442,482, of which rather more than two thousand five hundred millions have been raised by taxation.  Included in this total are sums amounting to L1,683,500,000, lent to our Allies and Dominions.  For the total casualties of the war, in an earlier chapter I have given the approximate figures so far as they can as yet be ascertained, amounting to at least some twenty millions.  At such appalling cost then, in death, suffering and that wealth which represents the accumulated labour of men, have the liberties of Europe been rescued from the German attack.  We are victors indeed; we have won to the shore; but the wreck of the tempest lies all round us; and what is the future to be?

It is four months now, since, in the splendid rooms of the Villa Murat, I listened to President Wilson describing the sitting of the Conference at which the Resolution was passed constituting the League of Nations—­four months big with human fate.  The terms of peace are published, and at the present moment no one knows whether Germany will sign them or no.  The League of Nations is in existence.  It has a home, a Constitution, a Secretariat.  But the outlook over Europe is still dark and troubled, and the inner League of Three is still the surest ground in the chaos, the starting-point of the future.  The Peace Terms are no final solution—­how could they be?  On their practical execution, on their adaptation year by year to the new world coming into being, all will depend.  German militarism has met its doom.  The triumph of the Allies is more absolute than any of them could have dreamed four years ago.  Nor can the German crime ever be forgotten in this generation, or the German peril ignored.  The whole civilised world must be—­will be—­the shield of France should any fresh outrage threaten her.  But after justice comes mercy.  Because Germany has shown herself a criminal nation, not all Germans are criminal.  That same British Army which as it fought its victorious way through the German defences in the last four months