The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1915-06-18
Europe in 1870 and 1915
Continued from page Al

and at least three-fourths of our men
were stretched upon the bloody field of
battle. The majority of that great
army hastened to Strassburg and of
course was lost to the army of the EN-
pire. A small part, about 5000 or
5000. men, fell back upon Nancy. 1t
was claimed at that time that the
losses in killed was enormous and
about evenly divided between both
armies. While our loss on prisoners
left in the hand Of the enemy was at
least 5000, we lost also most of our
artillery, including the new Mitrail-
euse, considered at that time the best
light gun on the field of battle. To add
to the discomfort of our troops we
were informed that on the same day
Aug. 6, our troops were defeated by
Saarbrucken and Spichernheights. 1t
never was really clear to my mind how
it was possible for the Prussian troops
to take these strongly fortified posi-
tons, and history tells US that the loss
Of life was enormous.
After these many years | have not
changed my mind in the least as to
the power of the German army; only
those who have made it study for
some time are able to solve the mys-
terry; it is not the superior courage of
the common soldier of the line, not
the better equipment, but the slavish
devotion to the rulin house of Hoenz-
ollern and the genius of the general
staff which brings success to German
arms; it would be wrong to say the
German soldier is made of better ma
terial than any other soldier of Eu-
rope, for German arms have suffered
many defeats in the present struggle
but the strategy of the leaders has
invariably turned seeming defeat in
to a glorious victory. Nevertheless
even the German chancellor has mis-
calculated German ability to over
throw the combined forces of the allie!
in few months of heavy fighting
and ! think the medals which wer'
secretly distributed among the soldier
bearing the inscription. Paris 1877
and 1915, will never be worn.
1t is true Russia at present ha
! turned the tide of war in favor of tn
central Empires, but this does by n
, means spell defeat for that great EN-
pire Of the east, for Russia will rail-
and, like Servia, turn again the It'd
of battle backward; for the war is b
no means coming to an end becaus
the fortress of an unspeakable nam
has been regained by Austrian troops
Germany's losses have been staggel
2 ing in this latest drive and most an
moment the allied troops may driv
back the Teuton invaders from Be
gium and French soil and give IL
combined forces of England ar
France the long delayed opportunit
to strike at Germany in her own terri
d tory.
It is certainly amusing to read Il
q different views as to the probab
conditions in Europe in case German
and Austria are defeated. The mo
h amusing is the statement that tn
will be the last war in the world, f,
y as soon as German militarism has r
ceived its deathblow, the area Of ur
versal peace will be ushered in and {
e mankind will be ruled by the spirit
a common brotherhood. This is a bea
y. tiful picture and ! wish it might cor
8 real; still can not for a nome
!, ], share those thoughts. Should Ge
q many be eliminated as a world pow
= would not England demand recogl
is ton as the mistress Of the deep? VIII
/ about the sunrise kingdom in t
le Orient? Can it be supposed that ]
ut pan, at present an ally Of EnglaI
n will permit British rule to challen
Japan's ambition to be the ruli
power Of the Orient? What bond !
81 there be forced which will unite
q republican spirit Of France with
ct autocratic rule Of the Gar? VIII
Balkan States submit to Russian DO
a. nation Of the Dardanelles and
'et Black Sea? With Austria and G
at many eliminated, will Italy be able
'o., defend her coast against the encrOa
,,,n,,fu of Ruaainn man If WARP