Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-11-05
THE SPECTACLE OF ALMOST AN ENTIRE WORLD AT WAR

Newspapers well military students have Tor years
discussed the probabilities of general European war; but
anticipated gigantic struggle like that which
is shaking the old world to its very foundations.
We not continent alone but four continents
involved in great struggle to the death, with armies from
Asia Africa and America fighting on the battefeds OF Eu
rope The English brave Canadians representing "Ou
Lady of the Shows well dusky warriors from their
faro empire Of India while both England and France have
from the Dark Continent joining hands with the Cos
sacks and Russian forces from northern Siberia well
the more southerly steppes of Asia.
England and Japan fighting Germany the coast
of China for which the Kaiser had proposed to
transfer back to the Pekn government until the should
close which said to have been the true secret OF
the Toxic governments sudden declaration of in order
to prevent the proposed The list Of nationaities in
voved allies in this great conflict embraces Great Britain,
including England Ireland Scotland, Wales Canada, Aus
traa New Zealand India and the various British
sons in Africa American continent and the islands of
the France with its Moroccan and other African
sons Russia, including the larger part Of the great CONT
nents Of Europe and Asia Belgium Serva Arrayed against
the allies Germany and Austria with Turkey on the point
Of if not engaged in actual hostes their side and with
the imminent possibility of holy Mosem that shall in
vove the entire Mohammedan world.
Italy has long been prepared for to regain her
cien provinces from Austria and with Turkey siding with
Germany and Austria will be practically impossible for the
Italians to avoid resumption of the conflict with Turkey
they recently relnquished Albania is already bone of
contention, and with Turkey encroaching the Balkan
States is difficult to how Roumana and Bulgaria. and
the smaller neghbors keep out of the conflict
Portugal has long stood ready to respond to the call of
Great Britain for aid Holland is modified for elfdeence
and single spark likely draw the Dutch into the great
struggle in which the Scandinavian peninsula, ncud
ing Norway and Sweden will be in the danger especially
Germany has long needed SchlieswgITolsen 1t is i'm
possible to predict where the line Of hostes will be drawn
in Europe if the conflict is prolonged likely.
No in any quarter Of the globe is free from the
greyhouns of England France and Germany and the
entire may be said truly to have become troubled
by strife while the larger part of the earhs surface is
great of hostility and hate.
America, 1.-The land of the brave and the home of the
free" stands almost alone in the enjoyment peace and
but for the Monroe doctrines sturdy maintenance and the
vigorous determination of President Wilson resist the
mendous demand for with Mexico to-day might be
involved in this great world struggle.
Nor have any conception Of the proportions TAX
by the vast series of battles in western Europe Here
alone engaged in death struggle extending months
less than 100000 Of whom the allies have the pre-
ponderatng force by about half a million.
The struggle may now be compared to great football
game, with the sides "hodng each other like grim
DEATH but swaying slightly back and FORTH while Germany
trying to get around the allies left end the North
and take possession of that extremity of land nearest to
England opposite Dover the great railroad
lines leading from London.
Here you have the general strategy present time
of Germany which is bent upon dsmembelng Great Britain
for entering into the conflict with France and Russia in de-
fence of Belgian territory The allies might concentrate
their forces and break through the German line at
other point but advantage gained would be temporary
has times already appeared both
such would the sacrifice of thousands of lives
futiey
When the Germans started out they acted the sup
position that few thousand lives less little
Indeed they openly boosted that they ready sac
fee hundred thousand lives in smashing Paris Later
they acted this principle different points, they
have begun to their forces with the single
ception North where the Kaiser declares
Calais be taken at any cost
The allies and especially the British naturally
block the efforts of the
through their left end and get in position carry
the into England But they finding the great war
machine of Germany tremendous engine of hostility and
strength
The manifest play of the Germans is to swing their
point of heaviest attack from the coast Of the North
sufficient distance the allies will not have the bene-
fit of the cooperation of the big guns of the British and
French warshps While accounts have not been sufficiently
definite disclose whether this is the local strategy of the
Germans it is safe to say that nothing has been left
thought of by the German military straegss if the
resorefu and alert Kaiser would permit them stop
thinking.