The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-09-18

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/ dred miles, so costly and dangerous
that, except for the good generalship
of Sherman, the union arms must
have suffered defeat. There are
those who believe that except for the
untimely removal of Johnston from
the command, Sherman would still
have had to fall back on Chattanooga.
He had lost in the battles about Re-
SAGA and Kenesaw Mountain and
thence onward to Atlanta at least
three to Johnston's one, and the Tight
ing quality of confederates was as un-
tanned at the last as at the first of the
seventy days.
Fabius himself in his memorable
retreats before Hannibal was not
| more skillful than Johnston in his
mastery retreats before Sherman.
Indeed, Johnston and Sherman were
so equally matched that the campaign
seemed a well-played game of chess
by two experts. The confederacy was
doomed. Even then, though the rank
and file did not realize it, the bottom
was dropping out of the tub.
The European situation today IS
analogous with the conditions revers
ed. 1t is now the invader who is
doomed. The allies, slowly retreat
ing before the Germans, have only to
hold their morale, as the confederates
did, presently to have their overconfi-
dent enemy at their mercy. He dare
not sit down before Paris relying up
on massed assaults and bomb dropp-
ing. He must destroy the army in
front and enter Paris, and, even then,
he will not be safe.
1t is but matter of weeks, perhaps
days, before re-enforcements will be-
gin to pour in to the allies. The Ger
man front in the west must be weak
ened to strengthen the Austro-G German
line in the north and east. Austria
is even now proving a broken reed.
Turkey will never reach the pivotal
points of battle. Holland, Italy and
even Switzerland will have to be
reckoned with before German can die
tate peace to Europe on her own
terms. In short and in fine the
Kaiser "'has bit off morn he can
| chaw." The Hohenzollern is doomed.
1t seems destiny. 1t has been
ever thus in human history. When
the nation, or the man, not willing to
let well enough alone, has set forth
to hog it all down he has gone.
That Kaiser Wilhelm of Hohenzol-
lern worked out in his mind cause
of quarrel and a plan of action. and
was not inspired solely by devilish
ambition, we may readily allow He
is an able, thoughtful man. He saw
the rising tide of social democracy
and viewed it with intelligent appre-
hension. Il must divert the mind of
my people and consolidate my power
by achievements in arms" he probab-
ly said to himself. 81 cannot leave
, the popular deluge that threatens as
a legacy to Hotspur son who may
not be able to meet it." he argued.
and Germany is better organized and
equipped for war, her adversaries less
so, than is ever likely again to re-
cur"
Thus Bonaparte reasoned before
the Russian invasion. Thus all would
be conquerors deceive themselves.
They consider not the unseeable-the
unexpected-the chapters Of accident
the elements. In the German Kai.
ser, fatal miscalculation.
The world could not brook a mas
ter of Europe in 1914 1t can as lit
tie brook master in 1914. The sue
cess of German arms would mean ruin
to England and France, humiliation
| to Itlay, Denmark, Holland and Bel.
| GUM. II Switzerland should be left
unabsorbed she would owe it to her
mountains and her poverty. None of
these results can the world submit to.
With them achieved we should not be
safe in America. With them achieved
civilization would be but an armed
camp, and liberty fed to british
| beasts.
1t Is unthinkable, inconceivable.
The Hohenzollern is doomed. Even
II his troops should occupy Paris he is
doomed. But, the likelihood is that
the Russians will be in Berlin before