The Washington times., 1915-09-04
THE CHANCES OF PEACE

Ane Caik OF peace now going the
sounds Of the press cannot be taken
at its face value at this moment. So
long as the Russian armies, partly
disarmed and greatly diminished,
continue to retreat, Germany may
well be excused for strong disin-
clination to lay down her arms and
accept terms. The situation in Bel
gium and northern France having
reached something like a deadlock,
tAe issue from the German stand-
point is being decided in the east
ern theater, where all predictions Of
q resumption Of Russian offensive
{ have SO far failed to materialize. In
the Russian game it Is Germany
that holds the trump to date.
But the allies have won counter
vailing advantages, in q military
sense, on the sea-and-land road to
Constantinople and the conquest Of
Asia Minor, with its coveted Bagdad
railroad and the land Of potential
riches which that trunk line is de-
signed to develop. It is impossible
to tell the exact gains of the Franco
British forces In the Dardanelles.
The roseate views Of Ottoman in
vulnerability disseminated by Liman
Won Sanders must be snalyzed
through blue spectacles. The losses
suffered by the attacking forces may
well be conceded to be heavy. On
the other hand, it is apparent that
the German assurances that the
allies are now as far from their pur-
pose as at the beginning must be
taken with distinct mental reser-
vation in view of the known facts.
The allies have established them
selves permanently upon the penin-
sula; a part Of the outer defenses
Of the straits have been battered
down; within two or three weeks re-
endorsements and vast supplies have
been landed, and, last but not least,
the forces available for reduction of
the Notifications that guard Con-
stantinople have been greatly aug
mented since the entrance of Italy
into the ranks Of Turkeys foes. So
1t is evident that neither Germany
nor the allies is in a position where
the finger Of fate points to immedi.
ate necessity Of peace negotiations.
Nevertheless upon all the belliger.
ents the pressure of human fatigue
and financial exhaustion is exertina
an influence for peace. The talk
that is going the rounds of news.
papers and chancelleries bears un.
mistakable earmarks of purpose in
= the minds of statesmen. First came
the definite announcement by Dr.
Karl Helfferich, German minister Of
finance, that the enemies of Ger.
many would be made to pay the cost
of the vast armaments. which the
German empire has flung at the rest
Of Europe. This address was the
first official intimation of Germany's
intention to impose an indemnit,
climbing into the dizzy billions upor
the prospectively defeated allies.
Ticking that declaration as 6
starting point, Sir Edward Grey nov
states specifically in an official repl,
to various German threats anc
charges that the allies will accept
neither the German definition o,
"free seas" nor the German demant
for an indemnity.
Negative results, these; but thi,
interchange constitutes the first of
fetal admission Of the possibilit,
Of peace that has been heard from
either side since the beginning
Thsre is hope in the mere fact tha
the word "peace" has fallen from
the lips of warning statesmen.
n A