Palisadian., 1915-08-07
Annus Terriibiiliis

The year of war was passed in re-
view recently by two British Minis
ters, on the eve of adjourning the
House Of Commons. AS in duty
bound, they sought to put the best
face possible on the situation. Mr.
Asquith declared that the struggle
had settled down to question of en-
durance, and that the final triumph
OF the Allies, with their superior re-
sources, was certain to come. Lloyd
George was equally confident of the
ultimate result, though he had some
very blunt and unpalatable things to
say of English mismanagement in the
matter of equipping and supplying
the army. Neither statesman was able
to draw rosy picture. Into the souls
OF both, as into those of all public men
and private citizens in the countries
engaged in the war, the grim and
terrible tragedy of the past twelve
months has entered. Boastfulness
hides its head in the presence of
the fearful sacrifice made. Even re-
elimination falters 1t is with sense
OF aghast helpfulness that the whole
world contemplates the misery into
which civilization, all unawares, was
plunged last August.
1t has been year of frustrated
predictions and expectations gone
wrong. In several of the warming
notes which passed between the vari-
Gus diplomats last July, the express
sion was used that war, if it came,
would have ''incalculable conse-
quesces." 1t was true word. No.
body foresaw what has come to pass.
Military experts have been left look
ing like children. Even the German
General Staff, with it's wonderful
organization of knowledge, has been
overtaken by surprise after surprise.
Financial prophecies have fallen to
the earth. The forecasts of Bloch
and others of his school have been
beggared by the event. And not into
the imagination of anybody did there
enter a conception of the enormous
losses which one year of fighting
would bring. It has been truly an
annus terribilis. And it's gloom is
projected upon the future
The strictly military aspects of the
war it is not necessary to bring to
mind again. But this is to be said ::
the frightful mien of war has been
so exhibited that never again will it
be possible to clothe it with glamour.
If the world had to have this lesson,
it has now got it in a way not to be
forgotten. When men hereafter speak
OF the pomp and circumstance of war,
we shall know that they are referring
to scenes such as can be witnessed in
a slaughter house. This war has been
of sort to revive the story of a
writer in the Middle Ages, to the eff
feet that when soldiers set up the
claim of being the most useful citi-
zens, the honor was contested by
butchers with reeking knives. And
he added that, whatever the motives,
or whatever the services, of men 60
ing to battle, war was in it's nature
so cruel that it was impossible to
"honest it with civil terms" 1t will
certainly be difficult for the impair
broke out year ago.
1t has not, however, been nothing
but shambles. Even amid it's
horrors, the humane spirit has shone
out, and moral principles have assert
ed themselves. Discussions about
the responsibility for beginning the
war have been dying out. They seem
rather barren at present. What the
world now Graves is some way of
ending the war-unless it involves
disgraces and perils less endurable
than war. There is, however, one
thing connected with the first days
of the war which we can never too
much insist upon, because it goes to
the roots of national morality and
of civilization itself We mean the
crushing moral handicap which Ger
many took upon herself by her con-
duct towards Belgium. This she has
never been able to overcome. Ger
mans themselves admit this. They
now perceive that the immense moral
revulsion which shook the whole
world when Belgium was trampled by
German armies had an effect very
like that of making the Allies a pres
ent of million armed men. Thus
we have at least one great sentiment,
having to do with law and right,
which has persisted steadfast all
through the war. 1t has been a mani
festation of the soul of goodness in
things evil. We need not despair of
the future so long as the heart of