The Washington times., 1914-08-26
THE LONG ROAD.

Germany enters the war with the
greatest military machine that was
ever builded. Every advantage is on
her side at the outset.
But she is fighting against we'll
nigh all Europe. She has thrown ev-
erything into the scale at the out
set.
Her enemies will suffer disasters,
but disasters will not be irrevocable.
They have reserves of strength, in
men and means, on which to draw.
That they realize their situation,
that they are preparing for great
drafts, that they are willing to make
the necessary sacrifices, is indicated
by the spirit of grim determination
evinced by Earl Kitchener in his
speech in the lords yesterday. That
speech is the word of a nation that
has set its hand to the plow and
has no thought of looking back.
Every victery fer the Germans in
creases the probability that Italy
will have to enter the war on the
eide of the allies. 1t will be an er-
ror to assume anything in deroga-
ton of the Italian army. 1t has re-
Gently been through war, and has
very large proportion Of seasoned
veterans. Either Italy or Britain can
put two millions of soldiers in the
field in case of necessity.
Already word comes that Britain
will bring home forces from India;
and there will be no danger in India
as result, because Japan stands
ready to garrison that country in
case of necessity. New Zealand, Aus
tralia, Canada. are ready to send
large forces. How large they may
be in the event of extreme neces-.
sity, is suggested by the thought
that Canada has about the same
population that the white people of
the South counted at the time of our
civil war. What would the mighty
armies of the Confederacy count if
they could be called back into being
and hurled into this struggle on the
side Of the allies!
While the allies are certain to re-
coup every loss, to overmatch with
every month of the war the utmost
that they could present in the month
preceding, Germany must look for
ward to a progressive reduction of
her available force in men and in re-
sources. 1t is a repetition of the
tragic tale of France under Ma
poieon. Russia almost knows no
limit to its capacity to bring togeth-
er armies of splendid fighters. What
ever may be said about the compari-
son between the Russian and the
German personnel is all to the ad-
vantage Of the Germans. In intelli-
eence and training they have the
better of +he argument. But after
I'll war is a harbarous business, in
which barbarians - accepting the
Kaiser's estimate of the Russians
are quite capable.
The world will not be conquered
by Germany. The wrecking of a
great army will he only an incident,
If it has actually happened. in the
whole story of this conflict. Time
fights on the side of the allies. They
have rock of security in the same
navy that won at the Nile, at Ira
falgar, at Copenhagen. They will |
not be starved into submission, be-
cause the wide seas are theirs.
Just as the empire of the seas,
firmly held by Britain, and the en-
pire Of the SHOWS, fighting for Rus
'ia, made itsimpossible for Bonaparte
TO carry his eagles in triumph to ev-
sry quarter of Europe, so will the
rastness of Russia and the solidity
Of Britain at last wear down the
power Of the conqueror in this war.