The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-03
Not Worth tho Cos.

HE clash which means the most wanton
l war i'll history mas taken place, and al
the great powers ri Europe are involved.
Nothing short Of Il miracle can bring peace
until suffering brings repentance Of mon
strous crime against civilization. Reason
has abdicated her throne in Europe. and
criminal insanity rules in her stead.
There are 10 prophets in these days. and
none can foretcll what Will come OF it all
i'll the end. That death will visit innumcr-
able homes. that hunger will rule III ,hous-
and cottages. that unemployment Will take
the place of industry. that property 10 the
value OF millions will he wiped out I'll these
things are sure. but what any nation will
get in return is unkuowable 1T is known
only that the return will not he worth the
price paid for it,
Vet the possibilities are interesting. 1t is
not a waste OF time to inquire into the
prOba bic results they affect the map OF
Europe and the lands overseas
Victory for Austria and Germany may
mean the annexation TO the dual monarchy
of Scrvia and tho elimination Of the corner
stone OF united Balkan nation II may
mean that Austria can gain her long coveted
open route to the Aegean
For Germany victory will remove the ever
present fear of Slav Nominations it will rcle-
gate France to thrdrat power, and leave
Germany free to continue her struggle with
Great Britain for supremacy oil the water
though her strength may he so nearly eX-
hausted that il Will take years before she
can take advantage of her opportunity. She
will seize as right OF conquest French
colonies. Defeated, she will lose Asacc and
Lorraine. raped from France during the
Franco Prussian War. Other provinces will
he lost 10 her. and Germany. instead Of
France. will be third-rate power Internal
discussion may overthrow the monarchy
France through victory. would regain her
lost provinces: would be free of the menace
Of Germany tile burden of militarism
would be lifted from her shoulders after one
dCbauch Of militarisb.
itussia's vision is possibly extended fur
thcr into the future than that Of any OF the
-othcrs. Her territorial integrity is scarcely
1t stake. hut success will see brought nearer
TO realization the occupation of Constanii-
nupc.
Great Britain hazards less than any. and
yet the fruits of victory will he no less delici-
Gus than for the others. THE other ma
tions will fight: Great Britain will get the
hoodlc." is the succinct summing up Of the
possibilities by writer in the New York
World. That Great Britain will steer free
of the fighting is extremely improbable, but
that she will get the DOODLE win or lose.
is not unlikely. Victorious Germany's navy
will be destroyed. and Great Britain can turn
into industry the vast sums she is now forced
TO spend on her navy. Germany's foreign
commerce will be destroyed. and Great Brit
ain will share il with the United States. a
few colonies here and there may be picked
up. II the triple alliance trumphs over the
triple entente, England will suffer less than
Russia and France. and will even gain some
thing from having destroyed Germany s
batteship and commercial fleets. rs seems
certain. whatever the final result
Briefly, these are the probabilities There
is little else that any can hope to gain. They
seem scarcely worth the struggle. and al
ways there is the likelihood OF defeat. which
means ruin. For those who 30 the lighting
and those VINO pay Tie cost. they most as
suredly are not worth ii. Future genera
tiOns will reap all the reward OF the blood
spilled and the fortunes lost Ivy the present.
These will have only the glory. such it
is and the poverty.