Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1915-08-06
WHAT THE YEAR HAS PROVED
J. w. 7. MASON
written for the United Press)


NEW YORK, July 31.-The first
year of the war cries fora compromise.
From the capitals Of the belligerent
nations come reports of denominating
optimism; but the encouragement is
all based on phantom beliefs in what
the future may have in store. 1t is a
ptiful tale each country has to tell
of the past. There is no aspect any
where OF hope in the present. APP
peals to unsubstantial visions of the
future alone encourage hope in a full
won victory.
But, the future is so often will
o'-the-wisp that leads to the quick
sands and quagmires. Amid the bold
claims of success which each nation
is making on the first anniversary of
the war, II is pitifully easy to detect
the wailing note of sorrow trying to
disguise itself as a paeon of triumph.
In truth, there will be no triumphant
celebrations anywhere in Europe at
this anniversary time. Writers may
pen their eulogies of native heroes,
equalized among all the belligerents;
drawn battles may be magnified into
brilliant successes, but the souls of
the warning people cannot rejoice at
these inconclusive evidences of sue
cess. All the nationas dwell too close
ly TO defeat, 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 de-
pends on a perpetual compromise with
environment, and that the lives of na-
natures laws. This is the great les
son 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 sing
their own songs of victory. But when
the battle maps are examined, the
progress registered anywhere since
the war settled down to its present
mode of fighting, Is seen to be in
finitesimal.
Modern warfare is proving to be far
more advantageous for defensive than
for offensiy? fighting. This is the sec
ond lesson of the years fruitless ef-
forts by master strategists to over
whelm one another. Nations no long
er can be overwhelmed. A great mill
tary machine like Germany's may con-
quer so small country as Belgium;
but apart from such rarely dispro-
portionate antagonists as these, con-
quest of one nation by another has
become impossible. Defense is more
potent than attack.
Every Austro-German offensive in
the eastern war area eXhausts itself
long before decisive victory becomes
possible. The Slavs, too, are unable
to carry the war into the enemy's ter
ritory. except by temporary drives
that are soon repelled. Only minor
victories are being won in turn by the
belligerents in the west, each offset
ting the other. 1t is as hopeless for
France and England to dream of over
running Germany as for the Teutons
to put their trust in the conquest of
France. Even the Anglo.French fore.
es on the Gallipoli Peninsula are be.
ing checked by the despised Turks,
the most inefficiently equipped troops
in Europe
Defense "a triumphant at the end Of
the twelve months fighting. Compro
mise therefore, becomes inevitable
The world has spit It's blood and
wasted It's treasures to learn that
civilization no longer will tolerate con.
quest. The year has proved that ed.
ucated man has taught himself, in
stinctively, and above everything else,
the art OF self.protection. But among
the warning nations themselves, the
lesson is not yet fully learned. Each
belligerent realizes the fact, as far as
itself is concerned. but is reluctant to
concede n like knowledge to the op.
posing side. Nature Is thought to be
willing to play favorites again, as she
so frequently has done In the past;
but this time, all mankind is being
treated alike, and to each country has
been whispered the native secret OF
self.preservation.
Therefore, q 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
favorites. This is the basis for that
blind trust in the future to which the
belllgerents now are appealing as