The Washington times., 1915-12-27


in the sun, as the close of the fighting
Of 1916 merges into the second winter Of
the European war. But. the seas still
remain shut to the Austro-Germans,
and economic distress and food scarcity
are exerting a more pronounced pres
sure for peace in the central empires
than among the other belligercnt ma
tons.
The primary cause OF the war has
been lost this year to both OF the orig
inal participants. The conflict began
over the irreconcilable Balkan differ
ences of Russia and Austria Hungary
Each power wanted to be supreme In
southeastern Europe. The end OF the
fighting I'm 1915 finds Russia held In
check beyond the Balkan border whiie
Austria Hungary Is playing minor
military part in Serbia under the dlrec-
ton Of Marshal Won Mackensen ana the
German general staff. German ihhu-
enccs arc now dominant In the Balkans.
The Kaiser has wrested the first prize
of the war from the Slavs themselves
and from his own southern ally as we'll
From Berlin to Bagdad.
Bulsarias entrance into the confllct
on the side OF the Germans has peen
the years most important development
The military consequences which nave
followed Bulgaria's action have given TO
the Germans clear road from Berhh
to BaSdad The Mesopotamian metrop-
oils has long been marked by German
statesmen to become the Berlin OF the
middle east and the center or Ger
manys place in the sun.
The years events having opened LOT
Gcfmany the rear entrance INTO SaS
| dad. the Kaiser must continue TO nght
to the point OF exhaustion for perna-
nent possession OF this precious right OF
! way. The British feet can prevent Ger.
many from expanding overseas, but II
| cannot block the road to the new enl-
| pire in the cast. This Is the dominant
reason for Germany's interest in Bag
dad.
| An Anglo-Indian expedition, a1ter
twelve months toll northward through
Mesopotamia from the Persian gull, Is
now trying to enter Bagdad by the
front door. But the Turks under Ger
man leadership have thrust the invaders
ninety miles to the south of Bagdad'
and the city at the close OF the year
remains safe for the Germans Never
| thcless, during the years lighting the
| British have captured the Garden or
Eden and other territory between the
TiGris and Euphrates rivers. greatly de-
sired by Germany. II the German
| dream of GermanlC empire III lHe
middle cast Is to come true the district
| between BaEdad and the Garden or
| Eden $50 miles to the south. must
| either be won by new milltary oHen-
| svc, or purchased in the peace CONFER
cnce after the war.
Balkan Odds Favor Germans.
| The military developments OF tho year
| make 1t certain that the Russian bear
will not be able to take his drink Of
warm water at the Persian gulf; and
little less than a miracle must now hap
pcn to give tho Gar Constantinoplc for
an outlet to the unfrozen seas. The
British effort to enter Constantinople ny
way OF the Ciallipoli peninsula has fall
| cd during the year. and Great Britain
Is now reluctant to undertake second
| costly experiment in southeastern Eu-
! rope for Russia's sake. Tho ease with
| which the Austro Niermans and BulSa
| rians have been able TO overrun Serbia
apparently has been due to Great Brit
aims disinClinaton to risk wasting her
! strength in n major Balkan offensive.
| The odds all favor the Germanic allies
in tho Balkans because OF their unlm-
pedcd lines of communicated
| Pritish intorcst in the Balkan cam
paIgn ia primarily due to its bearing
on the security OF Egypt. Lord Nitch-
eners visit t" the Lcvant during tn"
|
return seem to have created belief
in London that Egypt is not IN any
immediate ieorardy. Th" british now
lapparrntly nave concluded that Egypt
can be bctter defended along the Suez
Canal than in the Balkans. The ad =
Vantage OF communication, which the
Germans possess in tho balkans,
would pass to the British if tn" Ger
mans and TURKS were t" attempt an
offensive by crossing the desert TO
tho cast Of Su"Z.
Gar Presses England.
Thc Russians. however. are urgently
pressing Great Britain 10 pursue the
Halkan campaign. Otherwise, the
Car will probably BE- the wars prin-
cipal loser. His own troops, waiting,
as the year ends, to invadr Bulgaria
by way of Eoumania. can hardl?
prove equal to the task. unassistcd
The Austro Germans. BulP arians, and
Turks have certainly 7CH, 600 men
available for Balkan operations and
his fore" might possibly be increased
to a million. l'nOuestionably differ
enrCs of opinion have arisen among
the allies during the year because 0f
divergent BIliian military policies
TIE conrIiCtirG interests have not
been reCOncilcd in detail as the yea.
ends
Russia's defeat on her own soil by
| Ine CbInDlI 'u NuSlIC anu
German offFnsiVeS this summer was
not sufficiently decisive to cause the
Car to sue far a separate peace
Grand Dulic Nicholas saved the great
cr part of his armies. and although he
was removed from his command be-
cause OF the loss of GaliCia and the
NiStula dcfenSrs, he prevented the
Kaiser from compelling tho Car tC
surrerder. Tho Russian military fail
lnr was followed by the suppression
OF the aumH. tho popular Legislative
body. AMI the council Of the empire
the bureaucratic, Legislative house
The Car is now governing by fiat rs
, a complete autoCTat, relying neither
on the people themselves nor on the
bureaucracy.
The wear has seen no change Of i'm
portanCc along the western battle,
front. The French in Champa gnc, ant
the French and British in Artois at,
tempted to develop simultaneous
major offensive during tho last wcel