The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-27
 WAR ECHOES


 on in so large a field and with perhaps as many as 100000 troops involved, nc
 definite result is likely to be reached for several days, perhaps a week or more l The French war office announces that the offensive was taken by the allies, but beyond that gives no information. It is
 expressly stated that no details of the fighting will be published, small vic
 tories or defeats announced. until the l end.
 The fact that such a tremendous battle i is now going on, in country so familiar. I involving towns and villages of which
 countless Americans cherish agreeable
 memories, is hard to realize. It is hard
 10 realize. too, that this is probably the greatest batte ever fought, exceeding fin 1 the number of combatants and their power to work mischief any ever known, not only to Thuckdides and Lucan, but l to the historians of modern wars in the 1 age of gunpowder. The cavalry, artillery, and infantry are supported by the arr nored motor car and the bomb dropping aeroplane. The artillery of this war, es- | pecially that in the service of France, is the most effective ever known. And the French and Germans have been preparing for just this battle for forty years. It will result more disastrously for one side or the other, perhaps for both than any battle on record.
 The very thought of 1t causes shud- der. To speculate on the ruin it will cause, and the bereavements, fills one with horror. Yet it is fact that we must face In this age of enlightenment men of four enlightened nations are killing one another and destroying property more surely and quickly than that work of the powers of evil could be accomplished when the world was unenlightened. Philadelphia Public Ledger: Japan's in- trusion into the war is to be regretted on many grounds At this distance it is by no means clear that the British would not have been amply able to deal with the few German cruisers and gun boats stationed in the far east, whereas the participation of Japan infinitely in- creases the possibility of complications affecting the powers not now involved. China is naturally anxious as to the ulti- | illdtt dlSpOSillOH Ol lue leifltOIy, anu lS not to be blamed If she looks with some distrust upon Japan's professions of dis interestedness. She is to have the terri tory restored to her, but when? If it is to be only at the expiration of the lease, which Japan is striving to take over by force of arms, China will hardly be gainer by the substitution.
 Quitting, however, as unprohtable, speculations as to possible eventualities, and assuming that Japan will keep faith, the evident purpose of the Japanese ac- ton is to insure for the Tokio govern ment a voice in the councils of the pow CTS which must take place when the war is over. That is an international position for which the Japanese believe no pres ent sacrifices are too great The position of the United States has been made clear and thus far we have no reasons for anx- iety. Our interests in the situation are solely commercial, and they arc not threatened by anything that has yet ap- peared on the diplomatic horizon.
 Philadelphia Public Ledger: Little has been heard thus far of the Russian cam PdiSh III 'ftllldiiNt anu lOi tWo itdcoho. Recent advices which tell of the presence of Russian army of 500000 men in East Prussia and of the capture of important German positions well on the German side of the frontier, may be safely discounted. The difficulties of Russian mobilization, complications resulting from distance and imperfect means of communication, have made it inevitable that Russia would not be able to strike until long after small and more compact powers were armed and engaged. The whole German cam paign has evidently been framed with the thought that there would be time for a swift attack and perhaps a crushing one, on France before 1t became necessary to give serious attention to the enemy on the east Thus, while German defenders speak eloquently of the war as being one between civilization and Slav barbarism. it is to be noted that German military attention is being turned in an altogether different direction. This is perfectly nat ural but the Slav peril is, in the German opinion, more remote than that which con- fronts them on the west
 Another reason for the slow development of events in the German and Russian n frontier is the nature of the country which is unfavorable for military opera tions. In Poland today as in the days of Napoleonic campaigns, mud is an ele- ment with which commanders have to reckon, while in East Prussia, the country
 Is defended by natural barriers of marsh and lake. Aside from the Notifications which bar the Russian advance there are great rivers to be crossed, not only in East Prussia, but in Posen. More over, the network of German railways will contribute greatly to the defense. Therefore, it is not surprising that events In that region are developing slowly.
 Cleveland Plain Dealer. American ann bassadors and miniester sat the capitals of the nations now at war find their work not only vastly increased in importance and difficulty. but also much more than doubled in volume. Withdrawal of diplo- matic representatives by the hostile na- ton has been almost invariably followed by request that the United States as- sume charge. At Paris, London, St. Pet ersburg, Brussels, Berlin and Vienna the difficult duty of representing hostile coun- tries has been cheerfully accepted. Spain Is the only other nation which has been called upon to contribute the services of her diplomats. and Spain has had few requests in comparison to the large num- Der which have been made to the United Sfafest Tho antrv af Iapon baS r,lo cod