The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
The War After Six Months
How We stand.

Isnowdrops here, and the crocuSes are COM
ing. but the river of war rolls on, deepening
and darkening tide For every one OF the bel
gereut nations for the ancient prophet, the
waters are risen, and we are going where the
banks slope steeply. Some say that the past
three months have been uneventful, that the
armies really in winter quarters but the
list of casualties on both sides tells different
story. These lists in the German papers which
reach are printed In close type, and remind
us Of the gravestones In ancient, crowded
jchurch yards, The Allies also have mourned
many Of their best and bravest of all ranks,
including not few valiant boy-officers Let
US ask how the warning nations stand at the
end of six months of conflict
The German Position.
f.--On Sea.
Three months ago, November l. Germany
achieved her chief naval success On that day
the squadron of Admiral Spec defeated Adj
miral Cradock's far inferior vessels. The Mon
mouth and the Good Hope were sunk without
any attempt at rescue the part of the VIC
tors. Five weeks later Admiral Sturdees crus
ers sank the Schsrnhorst. Gneisenau, Nurnbery
and Leipziof off the Falkland Islands, thus
practically driving the German flag from the
outer seas Survivors from the German Pacific
fleet are among our prisoners of war, for the
British navy maintains its glorious humanita-
ran traditions. With the defeat Of the Pacific
squadron the policy of Admiral Won Tirpltz
developed a "frightfulness' against Britain.
This has been apparent in raids on defenceless
English towns and in submarine attacks
merchant shipping.
(a) on December fG after a previous failure
at Yarmouth. German battle cruisers of the
most powerful type bombarded West Hartle-
pool, Scarborough ami Whtby Their victims
were civilians, including many women and young
children, y Hartlepool correspondent sent us
recently a description of the aftermath" In his
town~-the many cases of agonizng suffering
in the hospitals The dead at Hartlepooi num-
bered over a hundred. This crime has not
been unpublished On Sunday. January "a. the
BABY killers" crept for another massacre
Of innocents. The squadron included the mighty
Derffinger the newest and most powerful bat
tle-cruisor which Germany possesses. with tnree
other hardly less formidable units. and n cloud
Of minor craft Sir David Beatty signal
success, sending the Butcher to the bottom, and
disa bling for many months two, at least OF
her companions including the Derffnger 1t
is a significant proof of declining hopes In Ger
many that the Naval Department has sought
to keep up the peoples spirits by false reports
OF n drawn battle
(b> At the time OF writing the enemys mos
quito craft trying to interfere with British
mercantile shipping. AS the Star said on Mon
day evening;
THE submarine cannot affect the course of
its command of the sea. All 1t can do Is to
add n small percentage To the ordinary risks
Of navigation such as storms and fogs"
2.-By Air.
The menace of an attack by Zeppelin air
ships has from the beginning OF the war been
hung over the Allies by Germany, France and
Russia have yet suffered little from such
invasion. On January 10 German airships at
tackled Yarmouth. Kings Lynn. Snettish ham.
an dother Norfolk villages We learn that
attack the Royal Family AT Sandringham
is considered by the authorities have been the
main purpose of this outrage. Four harmless
persons were murdered at Yarmouth and Kinks
Lynn The latest kilograms make il doubtful
whether all the raiders reached home in safety.
America has raised her voice in horror az this
Cowardly attempt
3-On Land.
The land war for Germany is a staIemate
both frontiers. She returns firm grip
belgium and Nothhea9tern France but for ESQ
miles in the West and nearly 1000 miles In
the Fast her troops remain the defensive.
A few trenches gained in France or Russia at
heavy cost retaken few hours later by
the Allied forces. We are promised vigorous
new German offensive in East and West when
the longer DAYS come. Meanwhile, If may
trust the Daily Nails Copenhagen CORES pondent.
Austria desires early peace, and would be
/ willing 10 mako large sacrifices. including the
restoration Of Belgium. for such desirable
end.
i.-The Internal Situation.
Bv far the most notable event OF the period
under review. so far as the enemys life at home
Is concerned, was the decision of the government
to regulate the food supply. Ryebread IL to
lie eaten henceforward by the general body OF
the population. wheat bread being reserved for
invalids 1t Is stated that If necessary. wheat
bread will be distributed only by chemists or
on the authority of doctors prescription.
Bread Is not TO be bought sold. but given
out In return for state tickets. Although there
is no near prospect OF any lack of food In Ger
many, the new regulations indicate the first
beginnings Of economic pressure.
/ Re>lewing the past three months from the
enemys standpoint chronicle the fall of
Tsingtau November = :. the loss of the Emden
November o., the utter failure OF the attack
on Calais the raids Zeppelin factories. the
collapse Of the South African rebellion, and the
defeat of the Turks in sthe Caucasus, Let us
standpoint Of the Allies,
Tho Allies.
on September 5 the Allies made agree
ment to treat for peace separately. Every
day that has passed since then has brought us
closer in spirit to the two nations with whom
we defend the cause ~ freedom.
Our Bond With France and Russia.
A thousand years Of fellowship could not have
linked us so closely to France as the six months
experiences Of this war. If for moment the
French people doubted whether bear
ing full share, the recent visits of NJ. Mil
lerand and NJ. Augagneur have undeceived them.
The press on both sides recognizes our knghtly
brotherhood in arms. The great river is RISING
and we shall meet 1t breast to breast
The completion Of six months of warfare
comedies most happily with the official publca-
ton from Petrograd Of that telepram, addressed
as late July 90 by the Tsar to the Kaiser. In
which the Russian Monarch definitely pleaded
that the Austro-Serbian quarrel should be re-