AMERICAN FINANCIAL RESOURCES The financial ability of the United States to pay the expenses of the war for itself, and to assist its allies, may be estimated from the following statistics: It is estimated that the borrowing power of the American Government is not less than $40,000,000,000, from domestic sources, without seriously disturbing the ordinary financial and economical affairs of the nation. THE ARMY AND NAVY The figures already given of population and wealth suggest the colossal potency of the United States in war. But at the outbreak of the present war that potency was undeveloped, and the actual army and navy strength of the nation was small. The following table indicates the actual strength of the army establishment at the end of the last fiscal year, June 30, 1916: THE NAVY The actual strength of the navy in October, 1916, was 3,761 officers and 54,214 men, a total of 57,975. In the Marine Corps there were 410 officers and 11,044 men, a total of 11,454. According to the United States "Navy Year Book" for 1916, there were at its date of publication the following vessels in the navy listed as fit for service: |