The Washington times., 1914-07-30
BEHIND THE CURTAIN,

world gets behind the curtain when
official censorship has drawn to con-
ceal Europe's war preparations are
terrifying in their suggestion OF the
possibilities. If technical mobillza-
ton is not afoot in Russia, France
and Germany, it is certainly true
that every preparation that can he
made short of literal mobilization is
going on. Austria has commander
ed the railroads and telegraph lines,
and it is said that for the time being
at least private transportation and
communication have been practically
suspended. 1t is, of course, to be ex-
pected that Austria's management OF
a war will be marked 6y the least
consideration for merely private
concerns, for no autocracy is more
high handed than the supposedly
constitutional government Of the
dual empire.
How far the world yet stands from
real enlightenment is indicated by
the descriptions of the war enthus-
iasm in various countries. The plain
| people, the ones who will make the
sacrifices and get none of the glory
the ones who in time of peace are
wont to enter feeble protest against
the horrors and impositions of war
are swept off their feet when the renl
war spirit flames up. The spirit OF
nationalism, the strange ferocity
that in such times suddenly evolves
out of what we call patriotism, car
ries everything before it. Under
meath the national spirit lies the In
stinct of racial antagonism.
Perhaps a general war would be
less a horror, in history's long per
spective, than we now believe. Per
haps the shaking of every throne
the collapse of some, would REMIND
the aristicracies of the Continent, a:
the sufferings of millions would re
mind the masses of people, that wal
is no proper diversion for a century
of civilization. The very insignifi
canoe and selfshness of the pretex
On which Austria has assumed II
take her momentous action agains
little Servia. will in the end impress
the nations that a condition which
makes Europe a powder house t.
he set aflame by such an insignificant
spark. is not condition to be tol
Grated.
The bigger the war, if there mus
be a big war, the shorter it is likel!
to be, because the burden cannot Ions
be borne. Europe's battle-ground
would all be occupied at once. Dis
tances would be short, transporta
ton in most of the zones quick
France and Germany might figh
each other for a considerable period
because each would be able to bor
row from noncombatant nations
But when all the creditor nations ant
the greatest of debtor nations are IN
voIved at once. there is none from
which to negotiate loans.
The United States would be com
pelled to furnish much of the ma
terial for the war Though the liqui
6ation of our securities abroad woul'
impose a terrific burden in one di
rection. the marketing of our food
stuffs and manufactures would some
what compensate in others. Withou
much question there would be
transfer of MANY vessels to tn
American flag, which would be tn
most potential and respected neutra
emblem in the world. Under presen
laws. American registry can be con
ferred or foreign-built ships, ant
doubtless advantage would be exten
sivelv taken of this privilege.
A war of any duration woul'
doubtless bring grave complication
for our own foreign office to handle
Suppose, for instance, that anothe
era of manifestos and orders in coun
ell directed against American ship
ming and commerce, should be pre-
cipitated? Suppose blockade o
the German coast should be followe
| ty an effort to make our foodstuff
and manufactures, intended for bel
liperent countries, contraband o
war?
In that event there would be goo
, reason for satisfaction that our owI
navy has power enough to become
real factor in the situation. Neithe
. side of the European array woul
care to exasperate the Washingto
. Government by making unreasonabl
, conditions. The weight of America
power and American financial au
, thority, in such a situation, Nigh
well go far to determine the issue O
| the conflict.
The order of events in this cour
try, in case of the great conflic
{ would probably be, first, a boom i