The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-31
WAR ECHOES

Kansas City Times: Odds are quoted as even in London that the war will be over by the first of the year. That would permit five months of fighting. It is all a guess Other wars afford little prece- dent. for never before has war been So extensive or engaged in on so vast a l scale
 | The Crimean war lasted nearly a year and a half. But of this time the siege of Seba stopol occupied Il monthS and the result was not long in doubt. The campaign of France and Piedmont against l Italy lasted only two months in 1859 The Prussian war on Austria is known as "the seven weeks war; The Franco Prussian war lasted about six months, but 1t was virtually decided at the beginning of the 1 siege of Paris. which came only two months after the declaration of war The Russo-Turkish war lasted nine months, the Boer war nearly three years, all though the most important fighting was over in a year, and the Japanese Rus | sian war a year and half.
 | Commonly decisive victory has meant the rapid closing of the war. For in- stance, in 1859, peace followed the victory of French and Piedmontese over the Aus trians at Solferino, where 26oo00 men were engaged. The Austrian defense went to pieces after the crushing Prussian vic tory of Sadowa Sedan settled the Fran oo-Prussian war. Russia had little opposi- | tion from Turkey after Plevna. Russia did nothing of importance after the de- | feat at Mukden, in which the two armies lost 10000 killed and wounded and the Russians 10000 prisoners
 But history throws no light on what will happen in a general war undertaken to maintain the balance of power. fought with desperation under modern condi- tions,
 Washington Times: From The Hague comes the statement alleged to be au- thoritative, that Germany has determined to withdraw gradually from east and west. Prussia to the Oder river, where the main defenses of Berlin are ranged.
 The Oder river flows from southeast to northwest through Prussia; to the cast of it lies roughly about one-third the area of Germany. At it's nearest point, 1t is only about 90 miles east of | Berlin.
 Precisely as France has builded magnifi- cent defensive works to guard her against Germany, so Germany has constructed a great line of defense along the Oder to insure against the advance of Russian force.
 How supremely important it is for Ger many to force every advantage to take every chance to ,hurl every man and every ounce of metal into the attack on her western line, is the more apparent when it is realized that she is thus menaced on the eastern border Russia at the line of the Oder would be nearer to Berlin, by more than half, than Ger many now is to Paris
 Another fortnight will likely enough prove the fate of France. She must be rendered hors de combat in that time or Germany will be compelled to fall back upon less aggressive campaign, because it will be necessary to de:ach troops and send them east to stay Russia.
 But even if Germany shall be com pelled to adopt this latter course, it by no means indicates an approaching end of the war. The struggle will be long and desperate All the authorities now agree on this. Germany. failing in an effort to sweep all Europe at once. Is a very different spectacle from Germany driven back upon herself. presenting 6 defiant line of bayonets and holding 1 Europe at bay. The empire is magnifi. gently organized to conduct such a war
 It realizes that to lose is to face possible dismemberment. Perhaps the fear oi dismemberment is more present in the German mind than it's purpose Is in the minds of the allies. No difference The fear will inspire her to the utmost en- deavors. There is small chance that Ger. many can be crushed like an eggshell. ai France was A years ago.
 Tit-Bits: The Foreign legion of Franc, may be said to be the only existing reg iment which has such motley collection I of men of all nationalities as It's recruits If any person wishes to drift away from his friends and relations or to sink hil
 identity 1t Is one of the easiest tasks [,