Evening star., 1914-08-02
The Die Is Cast for War.


,hus the long impending conflict between
the great powers of Europe is precipi-
tated. For several days this issue has
threatened, but to the end hope was felt
that the calamity might be averteo
through the good offices of England and
France. working to the last moment FOR
a pacific adjustment that would at least
conffne the strife to the initial field OF
hostilities between Austria and Servia-
When Russia declared that Austria 8
attack upon Servia would be regarded as
tantamount to an assault upon Russia
itself the responsibility for preserving
the peace of Europe passed to Germany.
For many years the kaiser has been
preparing to meet the forces of France
and Russia on land and the navy
of England on the sea. At last the time
had come for him to employ the ire
mendous war machinery he had been
assembling, or make acknowledgment
before the world that he was not con-
hdent of his prowess
That the choice thus thrust upon him
was difficult is manifested by the extraor-
dinary efforts he appears to have made
to prevent a breach. He was either
hesitant in the face of the possibility
of defeat at the hands of the Russo
Franco-British alliance presumably to
be aligned against him and Austria, or
he was merely employing diplomacy to
gain time for his initial war moves. He
has spoken at last and war declarations
from London and Paris are expected to
follow forthwith.
So. long has the general European war
menaced civilization, without precipita-
tion, that men have come to believe it an
impossibility. So vast are the forces that
are now loosed for destruction, SO over
whelming are the potentialities of such
strife for the destruction of civilizations
grandest works, that to the end OF the
recent negotiations optimism regarding
the issue has prevailed, for sheer con-
sternatfon at the awful consequences.
And yet the calamity is at hand and
traffic between the nations is paralyzed
while mighty armies are marching and
aRmadas are steaming for battle. So swiftly
has the issue been Joined that the world
has had no time to prepare and must ad-
just as best II may to a condition often
forecast and as often averted until now.
No Judgment regarding the outcome OF
the gigantic combat is now safe Appar-
emily the weight Of numbers favors. the
and-Teutonic alliance. but Germany's
great military machine is yet to be tested
and may demonstrates its superiority in
actual warfare. At sea the Austro-Ger-
man alliance-Italy appears to have in
efnsc& withdrawn from the "dreibund' on
tks plea that the Teutonic powers are ag-
gressers and are not defensive in this
war-fs apparently outciassed The de-
ctsfve blow may fall there, early in the
conflict.
The prayer Of the civilized world today
is that the war may be swiftly fought,
to an early finish. All the modern mechan-
ism Of land and naval fighting makes for
speed. through the rapid massing of forces
and the quick ascertainment of conditions.
It is inconceivable that the millions of
men who will in all probability be enlisted
in this conflict can be kept in the field for
many months. Rather il it to be believed
that the end will come in a matter Of
weeks.
One consolation is to be derived from
the present calamity. This may be the
last great war between the nations. the
final act of virtual disarmament through
the incalculably costly employment of the
gigantic enginery of destruction which
has been devised and developed by the
powers of Europe. When the smoke rolls
on the fields OF battle, exposing the
countless bodies of men slaughtered for
the preservation of national ''honor."
when the manned survivors have re-
turned to their sorrowing homes, when
the reprisals and indemnities have been
stipulated and the defeated bend their
backs to new burdens, then may come to
these now struggling countries the reali-
zation that great armies and navies are
an incubus and a danger and that
peace hath her victories no less re-
nowned than war"