The Washington times., 1913-03-27
THE PIPER'S BILL IN WAR.

With all the noise and spectacle of battle Adrian
ople has fallen and the bayonets of the Bulgars are
triumphant But what boots all the loss of life
entaed in this last assault TO either Turks or allies
Tne Bugarans have gained, with the capture of the
town, moral victory. But wars are not fought tor
that purpose. So far strategca position is con-
cerned, the time has passed when the actual posses
sion of Adrianople could be of moment Having it,
the allies are no more likely to be able to coerce
Europe into assent to their terms for peace than
without it. Its loss to Turkey was assured, anyway;
the case is one in which the pen of the Powers is
every whit as potent as the allies sword.
No doubt, Europe will now find the course of
mediation little more difficult. The allies are
certain to press their points more vigorously, and,
cnce face to face with the necessity of giving up the
hope of obtaining Scutar insist the more on the pay
ment of an indemnify. But the cause of peace will
have been given serious blow if they are
allowed one.
indemnify to the victorious Power is a vicious
system. Russian diplomacy served civilization we'll
when it won against the Japanese demand for indem-
nifty after Mukden. The Powers will now strengthen
tine precedent there established, if they refuse cash
payment to the allies, and especially if in doing so
they frown upon the whole idea of money indemntes
for war.
In an age which has gone miltary-mad despite
that better than any former age, it ought to realize
the crime of militarisn, tine rule should be laid down
that war shall no longer be a species of piracy,
prvateering enterprise with punder as its goal, an
adventure and a speculation. Germanys huge
indemnify from France was demoralizing sugges-
ton of the possibility of making the other fellow pay
for our plory. The possibility of exacting huge
cash payment at the close of successful war, not
for the in
country to secure a hearing for its demands, but
tends to enlist the whole tax-rdden country in support
of war program which is imagined to contain the
promise of victory and the exaction from a fallen
foe of the money to recoup for sacrifices that we're
necessary in order to pay the cost of the conflict.
MIitarism invested with the possibilities of Sue
cessfu business enterprise is militarism in its most
dangerous form. ..
Not one of the great Powers now maintaining
immense armies and competing to the extent of their
resources in the expansion of navies can afford the
sacrifices which this struggle imposes Given the
army and the navy and the possibility of using them
to place neighborng state under tribute, there is
always the danger of national necessities backing
up the demand for war. That is why indemnities
ought not to be permitted. International law and
custom should forbid them.
In the case of the Balkan allies they probably
have serious expectation of getting indemnify.
They know Turkey could not pay it. To exact it
would complete the bankruptcy of the nation. Euro
pean investors owning Turkish stocks will be very
sure to see that the Powers veto indemnify The
Balkans, more likely, pressing their money
demand as bluff they will try to trade it off against
the other demand, that they shall assume proper
of the old Turkish debt in consideration
of the Turkish territories they get.