The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-05
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
"No Man Cnn Tell

To the Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
Sir.-Your editorial of this date, mo Man
Can Tell" is most admirable and timely, and
well calculated to open the eyes of those over
sanguine people who have believed that a
great European war would prove of great benefit
TO the United States on the contrary, the
mere shadow of war has already intellectually
injured the United States in its every interest,
especially the South in her cotton interests. the
bulwark OF the wealth, prosperity and great
of the United States. The shadow of
has also irreparably injured the grain interests
which confidently relied upon great benefit from
war.
For several years the writer has given great
attention to the European political situation,
The great empires of Russia and Germany
are literally bottled-up in being denied free
access 10 the sea. and their problem is to gain
that access and as they cannot gain II by
peaceful means. they are resolved to gain It
by war. at the expense of dire distress to
the whole world. for TO remain bottled-up as
they are would mean eventual extinction from
over popuation-from inability to find food and
employment for their rapidly increasing popula-
ton. Dire necessity, therefore. and not merely
ambition, forces the dreadful conflict; and, il
point, IL will be gained by another and more
fearful conflict.
Germany and Russia must have full and free
access to the great and wide ocean; or. being
tourniquetted. by their present deprivation of
such access. they must. in time perish.
Tho secret of the between Japan and
Russia was Russia's determination to gain free
access to the Pacific Ocean, and war will not
finally cease-despite the puny efforts OF Bryan
and Carnegie--until Russia and Germany are
full Pledged powers.
In the writer's opinion, the result or the
present war--or il not of this. OF future
war-will be follows Russia will be found
in possession of Constantnople with free
access to the Atlantic Ocean on the south
through the Mediterranean. and, to the north.
by the incorporation of Scandinavia in her vast
empire.
Germany will gain full and free to the
Atlantic Ocean Ito which she already has
partial access through the North Seal by the
incorporation of Belgium, Holland and Denmark
which events arc plain to the writer as
If they had already happened
Will--indeed poue Mt all
hazards-try to prevent Germany. confronting
her with only narrow strip OF water separat-
ing them, but her utmost efforts will not
prevent; her mighty fleets will not be able TO
prevail against Germany's mighty armies.
France will be crushed and reduced to a
second-rate power, bearing about the Same
relation TO Germany Greece bore to Rome
II centre OF art
Northern France--geogra phcally part OF
Belsium-will probably go with Belgium in it's
a absorption into the German empire, and
Germany will probably force access to the
Mediterranean through the possession of some
important port on that sea.
When these things happen Gas they surely
Will In time) Great Britain may we'll tremble
for her laurcls. If she does not fight now she
might rs well write Ichabod over her door
LEWIS II. BLAIR
Richmond August L.