Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-12-22
Tho War.

It Is hardly worth while to reassert
the opinion that the European war is
on for quite long time, because by
now the world at large is exactly OF
that opinion, and while Of course 1t is
possible that hostilities may cease ev-
en- with something like the suddehness
with which they were commenced, this
Is not at all likely.
When the war commenced Ameri-
can sympathy generally, especially
including a vast majority Of the citi-
zens Of English or French birth or de-
scent was with the allies, and further
more a vast majority Of these had alb
solute confidence In the ultimate sue
cess Of the allies. The sympathy of
people Of German birth and descent is
just as naturally with the Germans
and Austrians, and they have been all
along just as confident that the Ger
mans are bound to win.
At the beginning it seemed reason
ably certain to most people in this
country that there was no other way
for it than that the allies would win in
the end, and while a majority Of the
people who thought that way at first
think so still. nevertheless it is a fact
that many are growing so doubtful
that they are beginning to believe
that the chances are about even eth
er way, and so far as they are con-
cerned, 1t Is toss up as to what the
final result is going to be.
There has been fierce fighting in
Belgium and France, as we'll as in
Russia Both sides have shown al
most inconceivable bravery and hero
ism and performed prodigies Of valor.
Both sides have shed their blood free
ly and have undergone tortures in
endless marches, in bayonet charges,
in flooded and frozen trenches. At
times it has looked like one side had
the advantage and then the other The
Germans swept things before them in
Belgium on their way to France, and
for days it looked as If they were go
ing right on to Paris. Then they were
checked and driven back for many
miles; but finally they came to stand
and since then 1t has been the real tug
Of war. Reports from Paris and Lon
don would report successes Of the al
lies and reports from Berlin would re-
port successes Of the Germans. It was
impossible to tell which side was real
ly getting the best Of it.; but it was and
is certain that the process Of attrition
is steadily and surely reducing things
down to the survival Of the fittest. 1t
Is the same thing over in the eastern
theatre. The Russians came down on
Germany like an avalanche and SEEM
ed to be smashing things before them
until the Germans finally checked
their advance. and now seem to be
driving them to dispersal and de-
feat, although there is no probability
that either alternative will be accom-
plished soon. .,,
AS things stand at this moment it
appears that the Germans have most
Of the advantage; but that advantage
is not necessarily permanent. Italy,
Bulgaria, Greece, Roumania and even
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland
and other European nations may yet
complicate the situation.
1t is reasonably certain that the war
has only fairly begun. 1t would be
risky to say that the first distinct stage
Of 1t is over and there Is no reason to
look for anything else than that 1t will
last for a long time. And as to how
it Is going to result in the end Is not
at all apparent. The allies may win.
Germany and Austria may win, or the
struggle may resolve itself into a
deadlock Of exhaustion.