Page:Punch Vol 148.djvu/305

Labouring Man (sorrowfully). "Wot if I do owe yer a tanner―wot's a tanner? 'Ere's me thinking in millions―millions o' pahns to 'elp keep the old country safe―and there's you grahsin' abaht a measly―paltry―bloomin' little tanner! Where's yer patriotism?"

Dear Mr. Punch,―Having been fortunate enough to put your readers right on the question of Germany's War strength―one notices that there has been a cessation of newspaper bickering on the subject since my letter appeared―I propose to-day to deal with the burning question of the supply of Copper. We shall take horses next, of course, and after that rubber and petrol, and (if there is still no important movement in the West and the space must be filled) we may also have to treat of cotton before we are done.

Copper is a subject that I have completely at my finger ends. I need not say that it is of vital importance. When Germany's copper is done the War must end. And first let me point out, as no one else has done, a signal instance of German foresight, yet another proof that every detail of this adventure had been considered in advance. I refer to the institution of the Iron Cross. Let us suppose that Wilhelm in a weak moment of vanity had preferred what would have been much more effective―a Copper Cross. Think what a dilemma would have faced him now. Either from lack of ammunition or from want of decoration the contest must have come to an inglorious end.

What is Germany's expenditure of ammunition? East and West she holds a line of, let us say, 800 miles. This line is occupied by some 4,000,000 first-line troops. (We are counting in the Austrians here, for, though they may not always wait to pop it off, after all each one of them does carry a rifle.) This works out, in Flanders, at about 5,000 men to the mile, in Poland at about 3,333 men to the verst, and in France at about 2,999 men to the kilometre. I speak of course in general terms. Shall we say three men to the yard? Making all the usual allowances we may call it 2¹⁄₂ men to the yard. Keeping well within the mark let us admit only 2 men to the yard. Jealously avoiding extravagance, put it down at 1¹⁄₂ men. Reckoning conservatively, call it one.

Well, now, what is the number of shots per rifle per man (or per yard) per day? Frankly, we shall have to make a guess at that. It might be simply anything. Naturally it all depends. But (omitting a series of rather abstruse calculations―in working yards into poods―which may be seen by anyone who cares to call at the office) we cannot be far wrong if we bring it out at 290 tons a day, for rifle fire, of copper alone. Adding 10 per cent. for maxim fire―though there is no special reason why we should select that particular figure―we get about 320 tons. But we must remember at this point that a good deal depends on the pitch. Nothing can be made out of mud, but on hard frozen ground rifle bullets may bounce and be recovered, provided that the enemy does not interfere. We must allow for that.

Now let us throw in shells. What about 200,000 a day? Let us say 150,000. That comes obviously to 309 tons 2 cwt. and a trifle. Near enough. Unburst shells of the enemy may also be gathered up sometimes, if you wait a bit. We must allow for that.

{{c|Conclusion.

We have now been led step by step to the solid fact―and there is no use