The Washington herald., 1914-12-10
The Reign Of MoIoch.

It is now four months since Moloch began his
sanguinary domination over Europe and he still
reigns in undiminished arrogance. Still insatiate,
he continues to demand further libations from
those whose blood has not yet been poured out in
sacrifice willing or unwilling. Four months of
this monstrous despotism, and what that is of
any account to mankind has been accomplished? ?
How easy it would be to point to the irreparable
damage doneI The very best that may be said of
it is that it is four months nearer the end-near
the national exhaustion which alone viii bring
Moloch's baleful sovereignty to close.
Neither group of belligerents has achieved so
much as an approach to decisive success. No mans
predictions have been verified and mans judg-
ment has been confirmed. Thus far it has been
struggle unlike any which has preceded it. Tacti
cal and strategcal traditions have been shattered
beyond repair. There has been no vital military
collapse like Sadowa Sedan; after four
months of the hardest fighting the world has ever
known, nothing is settled, the tangle is not less
perplexing. We know that Germany, at the outset
profted largely from her preparedness. The first
month of the was succession of German vic
tories, inglorious by reason of their inhumanty
perhaps, but triumph of military fitness at its
best. With seven big armies massed on the West
ern 'front.' the Germans were invincible. The less
ready French could not respond to the cry for help
from throttled Belgium without leaving Unprotect-
ed the entire frontier, and they were compelled to
look on helplessly while the Kaiser's war machine
devastated Belgium and part of Northeastern
France. 1t was only after that mischief had been
done that Joffre and his English allies ready
to turn on the invaders at the Marne and check
their impetuous advance Parisward
AS a result of that early victorious offensive
Germany still holds nearly all of Belgium and
slice of territory in Northeastern France The
allies have succeeded in regaining possession of
large portion of France left bare at the time OF
the German dash toward the French capital. Their
constantly growing armies stretch through Flan-
ders to the sea coast and their line has resisted
successfully all the force which for many weeks
has been trying to twist it to the breaking point
The premier surprise of the four months has
been the Russian efficiency which has compelled
a diversion of German forces to the East, thereby
curtailing the power of the Kaiser's offensive in
the West 1t is certainly the most disquieting
prise for the war offices of the German allies,
although the unsuspected staying power of the
French and their allies must be a close second. 1t
characteristic of the German military critics that
they have paid generous tribute to the stand which
has brought their reputed invincble war machine
to full stop.
1t has taken four months to restore what may
be regarded the natural equilibrium of forces
For the would-be destroyers of German militarism
this that their crisis is past. 1t means also
that in the continuance of the struggle they will
be able to avail themselves of their superiority in
resources, upon which final victory must depend
1t is the consciousness that the final settlement
may be slow in arriving that makes the heart sick
1t is the possibility that the detestable reign of
Moloch may be prolonged that inspires unrest.