Evening journal., 1915-07-31
BY J. W. T. MASON.

NEW YORK July 31-The first year
of the war cries for a compromise
From the capitals of the belligerent
nations come reports OF dominating
optimism: but the encouragement is
all based on phantom beliefs in what
the future may have in store Il is
pitiful tale each country has to tell
of the past. There is no aspect any
where of hope in the present. Ap-
peals to unsubstantial visions of the
future alone encourage hope in full
won victoryy
But the future is so often will-o'-
the-wisp that leads to the quicksands
and duagmires. Amid the bold claims
OF success which each nation IS max
ing on the first anniversary OF war,
Il is pitifully easy to detect the vail
ing note of sorrow TO disguise itself
as a paeon of triumph. In truth there
will be no triumphant celebrations
anywhere in Europe at this anniVer-
sary time Writers may pen their
sulogies of native heroes, equalized
among all the belligerents; drawn
battles may Il magnifed into bril-
liant successes, but the souls of the
warning people cannot rejoice at these
inconclusiye evidences OF success. All
the nations dwell too closely TO de-
feat and all know victory is too far
away.
Compromise must bring an end TO
the conflict The nations of the world
must learn that all individual life
depends on a perpetual compromise
with environment ana that the lives
OF nations cannot obtain immunity
from natures laws. This is the great
lesson of the first year of the war
France recounts her success at the
Marne England relates the prowess
Of her fleet; Germany tells of her
wonderful accomplishments on two
fronts; the other belligerents ding
their own songs of victory. But, when
the battle maps are examined, the
progress registered anywhere since
the war settled down to its pres
ent mode of lighting, is seen to be
infnitesimal.
Modern warfare is proving to be
far more advantageous for defensive
than offensive fghtinng. This is the
second lesson of the years fruitless
efforts by master strategists to over
whelm one another Nations no longer
can be overwhelmed. A great mill
tarv machine like Germany's can con-
but apart from such rarely dispropor-
tionate antagonists rs these conquest
OF one nation by another has become
impossible. Defence is more potent
that attack.
Every Austro-German offensive in
the eastern war area exhausts itself
long before a decisive victory be-
comes possible The Slays, too. are
unable TO carry the war into the enc
my's territory, except by temporary
drives that are soon repelled Only
minor victories are being won IN turn
by the belligerents in the west. each
offsetting the other II is as hopeless
for France and England to dream Of
overrunning Germany as for the Teu-
.ons to put their trust in the conquest
Of France. Even the Anglo-French
forces on the Gallipoli Peninsula are
being checked by the despised Turks.
the most inefficiently equipped troops
n Europe.
Defence is triumphant at the end
Of the twelve months fighting. Com
promise. therefore. becomes inevita-
BILE The world has split its blood
and wasted its treasures to learn
that civilization no longer VIII toll
crate conquest. The year has proved
that educated man has taught him
self instinctively and above every
thing else, the art of self-protection.
Each belligerent realizes the fact, as
far as itself is concerned, but is re-
luctant to concede a like knowledge
10 the opposing side. Nature is thought
to be willing to play favorites again
as she so frequently had done in the
past; but this time, all mankind is
being treated alike, and to each coun-
try has been whispered the native
secret of self-preservation.
Therefore, a compromise is newt
able. The dead in the second year OF
the war will be martyrs TO the age
long belief that nature has her fav'
orites. This is the basis for that
blind trust in the future to which the
belligerents now are appealing as
their justification for a continuation
OF the conflict But during the pas
twelve months, nature has betrayed
all her ancient proteges in turn. In
evitably she must continue her i'm
partial attitude. for human strength
and human wealth are limited. and nj
belligerent has enough left to brib'
a change in natures attitude.
The past year has proved that civ
iltLdliOu Is dblt W save liSelI IICu
destruction. Civilizing influences will
not go down in the ruin or the con
hict On the contrary rotting sores
hidden below civilization's surface
have been exposed in all lands as onl,
G war of the present magnitude coult
uncover them. If the war hadn't come
these diseased spots probably woult
have spread. weakening civilization
and retarding its healthy growth
When the war is over. and the fna
compromise is signed. civilization viii
he able to move forward in many new
directions-to develop more humanit,
in one country; to obliterate degen
erative tendencies in another: to mod
ify caste and encourage discipline an,
efficiency in a third; to cxpel corrup
tion and perhaps absolutism itself
from a fourth. The time for such