The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-08-05
ENGLAND IN THE WAR.

Among the foreign ministers OF
Europe, meme commands more wide,
spread confidence than Sir Edward
Grey; and fis corduct of the foreign
| policy of his country in the last
fortnight, throughout the period Of
most stuperdous stress that has ever
been laid upon diplomacy, has more
than justified his high repute. Some
day we will know, as we cannot now,
the full inwardness Of the series of
moves on the chess board, by which
Germany has been unanswered into
q position that cost her the SYM
pathy of almost all the neutral
world, and made possible an align
ment of well-nigh all Europe in arms
against her. When that story is
complete, Sir Edward will stand
forth as the great diplomat of it all.
Considering the crisis in Ireland,
the growing menace of German COM
mercial expansion, The development
of German sea power, and the obli-
cations Of Britain to her friends
among the nations, it is not incon-
ceivable that Britain has long aimed
to have this test when conditions
should be right for It. But she could
not afford to appear as the aggres-
sor. And she has not.
Whatever of swashhuckling, Of
turbulence, of recklessness, has
marked the days prior to the dec
laration of war, has been made 20
appear, at least, to have bad its
seat in Berlin. Britain has been
knitted together into such unity
as has not been seen since the strug-
gle against Napoleon. There is real
inspiration in the spectacle of Ulster
volunteers and Irish nationalists, a
few weeks ago running guns in prep
araticn for civil war, now stepping
forth elbow to elbow, vying in 10y
atty to the common cause, clogging
the wires with tenders of their serv-
ices against the common foe.
Captain Mahan's analysis of Brit
aims position the other day told the
story. For Britain now to be dis
loyal to France and Russia would
have been to sacrifice the next gen.
eration's national existence for the
sake of this generations peace. Ger
many would have crushed France
and probably have taken the low
countries. Thence she would have
projected a thlmderbolt against AL
Zion, some time in the near future;
and there would have been no friend |
to aid England sustain the shock.
That was Prussia's strategy when |
in 1866 she smashed Austria at Sa-
dowa because France did not come
to Austria's rescue. France kept out |
of that war; bu. four years later her
time came; Germany defeated her
and dictated peace from the head
quarters of German army in Paris.
Europe learned ir Napoleon's time
the lesson of how Intellectual are d.
vided councils. The Corsican aimed
to strike swiftly and hard, sweeping
one adversary aside before another
could Join against him; then turning
upon the second. Germany is not
to be permitted to play that century
cid game.
When all is said, it is not so GER
tain that the allies will win a vic
tory over Germany of such stupen-
dous scope as 10 enable France to
take back her lost provinces and the
of 1871. On paper, it looks
like Germany against Europe, as it
once was Napoleon against the rest
Of the Continent. Austria is unlike
~ to he a considerable figure; her
record for centuries is one of mill
tary failures. Seemingly her arms
have failed thus far to make real
against little Servia.
But Gerrany's posture is differ
emf. Strong, confident, terribly swift
and magnifcently ready, she is lay
ing about her in all directions. Seiz-
ure of Belgium, Holland, LuZem-
burg, and Basic il Switzerland are
cot accidents of moment: they are
part of the lorg-considered plans of
he greatest military organization
he world has known.
Much would seem to depend on the
:hance of the British navy to do eff !
fective worl:. It is past belief that !
Germany will risk square fight on
he sea. Her feet, drawn into the ]
Of her harbors, may prac-
;ically neutralize the greater feet t
# Britain, which will be occupied in j
her. Starving out an en-
oire is a slow process; before it is |
tarved it may occupy Russian Po- I
and, the Netherlands, and a slice ,
# France. and be entrencned SO /
that IN z peace council of I