Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-05
The Greatest War.

II was ninety-nine years ago that
Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo art
err series of campaigns which shooA
the world by their magnitude and cost
and the daring of the French COM
nander. Since then wars have occurred
In Europe. some great wars, ana with
nnomentous results. but none to COM
pare in scope and possibility for the
changing of the map with that which
has now been precipitated by the AUS
trian attack upon Servia. Indeed, the
present prospect is that with the IN
Movement of virtually every power IN
Europe will come war that, whatever
its length of time, will stand as the
greatest conflict in all history.
This will be virtually a war against
Germany. with that power and her Aus
trian ally standing. as the present en-
rollmeut of nations goes, against Rus
STA. France. England, Belgium and Ser
via. Only one of the major powers holds
aloof at this time, Italy. bound by the
text of the triple alliance to assist Ger
many and Austria In case of an attack
upon them by other countries, but con-
STRUNG that obligation negatively in
view of the fact that Austria was the
sggressor primarily against Servia, and
Germany the aggressor against Russia
i,nd against France. 1t is not improbable
sHat eventually Italy will be drawn
fl.tu the fight as a member of the anti
tg8;onic coalition. Furthermore. Japan
RAJ. plainly indicated her readiness to
t,..Ft.cipate as England's ally in the far
east Holland and Denmark may be
forced in their own defense to tight
alongside of the French and English for
the preservation of their sovereignty.
while Turkey, now declaring neutrality.
is known to be moved by pro-German
friepdliness and may later contribute
to the Teutonic forces. In this event all
the Balkan states and Greece may De
come involved. In any case IL Is hkeiy
that Roumania and perhaps Bulgaria
will be brought by their natural affllia-
tons into active alignment against AUS
trta. AS far as the present indications
go there is nothing in the situation TO
involve Spain and Portugal. although
no one can tell how far the present
embodiment Will extend.
Whereas If the war had been confined
strictly to its initial area, between Aus
tria and Servia, there would probably
have been but little changing of the
map of Europe. il is inevitable now that
momentouS alterations must eventually
be made, AFTER the idSt SnOt Is liTed anu
the peace treaty is written. Should Ger
many win and dominate in the con-
GLIDING settlement it will become the
greatest of the old-world powers. Entire
sovereigntiss may be eliminated. From
tiers will certainly be changed On the
other hand. in the event of the defeat
of the Teutonic alliance boundaries VIII
be shifted more radically. in all PROB
ability, than after the war of 1870, while
Germany must sink from its present
rank as a world power.
So swiftly has this situation developed
that the world can hardly appreciate its
possibilities. cannot grasp its magni-
tude Probably not even the people OF
Europe today are conscious of the ire
mendous forces that have been loosed
for destruction. 1t involves no tax upon
the mind to conceive a state of war
between two countries, but war in
roiving directly four of the greatest
and most powerful nations on the earth.
with smaller ones as allies, is in Its
potentialities virtually incomprehensi-
BILE as an unreasonable catastrophe.