New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-05

has passed the high water mark, put there
are the British troops to come, another
million at the least
As for Russia, Mother Earth gives us
men and England money; why should we
fret ?"-this is the familiar comment OF
Russian officers. If Russia has lost 5,OOO,-
coo there are 100000 to draw on. In
the spring there will be new army, but
where will the Germans find new masses
10 meet this Russian drive?
AS for Austria. she has lost more heav-
ilv in proportion than France or Germany.
Her last. 100000 at the best, are now in
the field. and behind there are no re-
serves. and already her levies are old men
and boys. But Italy has only begun to
spend her lives and her resources are COM
paratively unlimited.
There can be no mistaking the essential
fact. Men, money, food, these things are
beginning to fail the Central Powers.
These diminishing resources may avail to
hold the present lines for six months more,
they may last through another summer,
but the turn of the tide has come, has been
perceived by Germany's enemies and is
becoming clear 10 neutral states.
At this distance it is plain every sug-
geston of peace can be traced to Ger
man source. Yesterday it was "a friend
of the German Ambassador" in Washing
ton who became vocal on Germany's peace
proposals-when Great Britain gave the
signal for peace. But there are no signals
flying in London. All the German bdtions
d'essai float off beyond the horizon and are
lost. And just as quickly as one vanishes
another is sent up.
There is time in every war when
genius. superior preparation, highly CEN
tralized authority break down against
numbers. Bernhard in one Of his books
admirably describes Napoleon's failure In
1914, when he attempted to enforce tacti-
cal success with inferior numbers. His
failure was complete. A similar failure
awaits the Germans.
The test of the situation to-day is to be
had by tracing to their source the reports
of peace negotiations. Always it will be
found that the victor is the party respon-
sible for the reports. Germany now looks
anxiously about to find some method by
which she can obtain peace while the bet
ter fraction of her winnings remain to
her. Napoleon made similar efforts be-
tween the Battle of Leipzig and the Treaty
Of, Chaumont, which, for his enemies. abol-
ished all chance Of negotiation.
Spain. the Vatican, Switzerland, the
United States, if it be possible, will be
employed to help the German purpose. All
the longings for peace of the combatant
and the neutral populations will be
modified to help the German cause. Allied
craftsmanship, Allied military command
already perceive the end. Germany still
hopes her enemies civil population will
break under the strain. 1t is faint hope,
but last hope.
The Great War is entering decisive
stage. Germany has failed in her grander
aims after magnificent effort. She must
make peace soon or she will lose the ma
terial out of which she hopes to make a
satisfactory peace Napoleon refused to
make peace at the Rhine in 1918, and in
1914. when the allies took Paris, he had
nothing left with which to bargain.
The war is no longer combat of men
in the trenches, merely or primarily. The
maximum of German success now has been
reached and passed. 1t becomes battle
of cabinets and statesmen. Meantime day
by day and week by week the Allies are
grinding the failing resources of men of
the Germans as Grant and Sherman
ground the last levies of the Confederacy
The parallel with the Confederacy IS per-
haps 1863 rather than 1864, but the par
alel is ineluctable.
For the world the danger point in Ger
man aggression is well passed. Neither
Europe nor the world is to be dominated
by German arms or ideas. Germany is
| fighting now. not for world power and
supremacy, but to save something of her
conouests. Tomorrow she will be fighting
to save herself, her own frontiers, her
place in the sun, not Of Asia or Africa
but of Europe. The Great War is moving
toward the end, slowly but Enthusiastically
and the end daily becomes clearer. The
words of BRAND and Asquith have for the
world value beyond exaggeration.
IT, C,coa Old RsIl