Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-12-29
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 20. 1918.
PEACE OR MORE WARP

Vague hints from time To time encourage
n vague hope that peace may be restored
before long in Europe. But the situation
as the wear draws to it, close hardly war
rants gambling on the probability of an
early cessation Of the Great War. The
year closes with Germany practically the
victor IN the operations on the continent.
She still holds the conquered Belgium. and
Serbia j. practically another Teutonic con
quest. while Il considerable part Of Rus
sian territory Is also IN the possession Of
the central powers. With the exception of
n small crescent along the Belgian border.
IN Champagne, Germany has yielded al
most nothing during the year.
The entente allies, on the other hand.
have done little besides maintaining a de-
Tense along the western German front.
while Russia has been on the retreat Cor
some months. Besides the victory in
Champagne. England appears to have
driven the German submarines from the
seas about the British Isles. Beyond this.
the year seems to have been unfruitful for
the entente. The campaign in the Gallipoli
i'AAAiThiA H&T I'LL Ct FN0tAN 4bittt's anu
the attempt to take the Dardanelle-. the
key To Turkey and southern RUSSIA. ~
far has been n series of disasters to the
British and French. But Great Britain j.
still virtually IN control of the seas. and
here perhaps II whore she may vet be
able to take i Stranglc hold on her gigantic
foe. For Germany i~ reported 10 be ~uf-
far,nv fr,p, u. lI.rs.n. ~. .,.,.- +l, ,~...
which il telling on her economic condition.
Combined with the exceedingly Cumbersome
war taxes, the scarcity of cereals and
other field products. has made her people
feel the pinch Of poverty. Bare cuphoard-
and empty Stom1ch~ are on the side of
peace. This ~ reflected ~ the German
press. many papcr- 81 the country clamor-
INC for peace. An effective blockade ~ the
British might incline the Tcuton~ to listen
to peace proposals. But Still the Tcutonic
allies apparently are in = position to die
tate terms. bv reason of their victories. and
the outlook II doubtful.
The only immediate hope for peace
seems To liz in u possibility that both sides
may rome "a Y realization that thev are
gaining virtually nothing IN fighting. while
their losses are unreasonable. III I'M of
the belligerents could onlv come to take the
view Of the situation alleged to have been
expressed by some German soldiers in the
trenches recently. the end might come
soon. These soldiers in O lull between
fights. hoi~ted a board above their trench
on which were the words:
"The English are fools"
This insult brought no reply from the
enemy trench. The board was taken down.
Presently ii WAS hoi-tcd again. hearing the
words:
"Thc French are fools
This also was ignored and taken down.
But soon again the board was hoi,ted. This
time il said:
''The English are fools.
'The French are fools.
"We are fools.
"Whv not All 70 humc2"
The enemy roared then. but none Of the
poor fellows went home.
II the philosophy of that board could
only be brought home to the courts Of Eu-
rope. perhaps the Ford peace crusade
might be followed ~ quick results.