The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-07-31
BY J. w. T. MASON,

by j. w. L. MASON.
written for the United Press.)
New York, July 31.-The first
year Of the war cries for a compro-
mise. From the capitols of the bel
igerent nations come reports of dom
mating OPTIMISM; but the encour-
agement is all based on phantom be-
liefs in what the future may have
in store. 1t is a pitiful tale each
country has to tell of the past There
is no aspect anywhere of hope in
the present. Appeals to unsubstan-
tial visions Of the future alone en-
courage hope in full won victory
But, the future is so often a will
o'the-wisp that leads to the quick
sands and quagmires. Amid the bold
claims of success which each nation
is making on the first anniversary of
the war, it is pitifully easy to de-
tect the wailing note of sorrow try
ing to disguise itself as a paeon of
triumph. In truth, there will be no
triumphant celebrations anywhere
in Europe at this anniversary time.
Writers may pen their eulogies of ma
tive heroes, equalized among all the
belligerents; drawn battles may be
magniied into brilliant successes,
but the souls of the warning people
cannot rejoice at these inconclusive
evidences of success. All the ma
tions dwell too closely to defeat, and
all know victory is too far away.
Compromise is Wanted.
Compromise must bring an end to
the conflict The nations of the
world must learn that all individual
life depends on perpetual compro-
mise with environment, and that the
lives of nations cannot obtain i'm
munity from natures laws. This is
the great lesson of the first year of
the war France recounts her sue
cess at the Marine; England relates
the prowess of her feet; Germany
tells of her wonderful accomplish |
ments on two fronts; the other bel
ligerents sing their own songs of vic
tory. But, when the battle maps are
examined, the progress registered
anywhere since the war settled down
to it's present mode of fighting, is
seems to be infinitesimal.
Modern warfare is proving to he
far more advantageous for defensive
than for offensive fighting. This is
the second lesson of the years fruit
less efforts of master strategists to
overwhelm one another. Nations no
longer can be overwhelmed. A great
military machine like Germany's may
conquer so small country as Bel
GUM; but apart from such rarely
disproportionate antagonists as these,
conquest of one nation by another
has become impossible. Defense is
more potent than attack.
Every Austro German offensive in
the eastern war area eXhausts itself
long before a decisive victory be-
comes possible The Slavs, too, are
unable to carry the war into the
enemy's territory, except by tempor-
ary drives that are soon repelled.
Only minor victories are being won in
turn by the belligerents in the west,
each offsetting the other. 1t is as
hopeless for France and England to
dream of overrunning Germany as
for the Teutons to put their trust in
the conquest of France. Even the
Anglo-French forces on the Gallipoli
Peninsula are being checked by the
despised Tuks, the most ineffectively
equipped troops in Europe.
\ Defense Triumphant.
x Defense is triumphant at the end
of the twelve months fighting. Com
promise therefore, becomes inevitable.
The world has split its blood and
wasted it's treasures to learn that CIV
lization no longer will tolerate con-
quest. The year has proved that
educated man has taught himself, In
stinctively, and above everything
else, the art of self-protection. But
among the warning nations them
selves, the lesson is not yet fully
learned. Each belligerent realizes
Z the fact, as far as itself is concerned,
but is reluctant to concede like
knowledge to the opposing side.
Nature is thought to be willing to
play favorites again, as she so fire.
ouently had done in the past; but
this time, all mankind is being treat
ed alike, and to each country. has
been whispered the native secret CT
self-preservation.
Able to Save Itself.
Therefore compromise Is In,
eyitable. 8 The dead in the second ~
year of the war will be martyrs te