The Washington times., 1915-12-27
Kaiser Wins Overland
Route to Place. in Sun
But Seas Remain Shut to Austro Germans, While Eco
nomc Distress and'Food Scarcity Are Exerting
Pronounced Pressure--Mason Reviews
----.-n... Year in War. ?. .,E."
By ], w. r. MASON.

in September, but without success:
The Germans lost few miles or
trenches. but they were able to check
the enemy before the. drives threat.
toward the German frontier. The
result OF tie costly experiment
showed that the German trenches are
not impregnable. but also revealed
eral staffs have not solved the prob.
lem OF following up one successful
attack by. another in the face or Ger
man artillery. ,,
year has had disappointing results for
Great Britain. Russia, and France. the
Italians after seven months fighting,
have not gained as much territory as
Austria offered to cede last spring In
exchange for Italy's benevolent neutral
ity. The principal factor working
against italian success has been the
superiority which trench warfare gives
to an army on the defensive. The
Roman government is now facing scri-
GUS though subdued criticism at home.
As the year ends. there are reports that
pressure Is being exerted in favor OF
the return to power of the veteran pro
German ex-premier. GioIitti. italy has
signed an agreement with the other
members Of the quadruple entente not
to make a separate peace, but II Signor
Giolitti were to be made prime min
lister, he would undoubtedly use his in
lDI DtdIt al tne lIlO-
ment
Financial Situation Serious.
The financial situation among all the
belligerents has steadily grown more
and more serious as the expenses Of
the conflict during the year have cease
lessly mounted. The total daily cost of
thirds Of which Is being paid by the
quadruple entente, and one-thrd by
Germany and her allies. The British,
who have been most lavish in their
cere in facing the critical monetary
problems OF the war. Great Britain
alone among the belligerents has begun
10 shoulder the financial burden OF the
Elsewhere the war is prolonged almost
exclusively on borrowed money. IT is
probable that the exhaustion Of golden
bullets. and the accompanying danger
OF economic disaster will be the prin-
cipal determining factors In bringing
the war to an end.
The food situation in Germany and
Austria Hungary has become more seri-
Gus this year than last, but has not
grown sufficiently hazardous to compel
the Austro- Germans to accspt peace.
1t Is contributing cause, nevertheless
to the persistent desire for peace which
is more apparent in Germany as the
year closes than anywhere else.
half ratons indefinitely II it is fighting
defensive war. may refuse a long cur.
tailment of food II the government has
offensive purposes in view.
AS this years fighting drew to an end
DR. Won Bethmann- Holweg. the Ger.
man chancellor, declared in the reachs-
tag that Germany was fighting a de-
fensiVe war to prevent herself being
crushed by the allies But last Aurust
pr Helfferich. the German minister OF
t1nance. announced also In the reachs-
tag. that Germany's war expenses
would be paid by an indemnity collected
from the enemy. The year Is closing
without any disavowal from Berlin OF
Or. Helferich's intimation OF conquest.