Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-08-12
PoLAND's FALL AND MILITARY BALANCE OF POWER

cal element Then sought in Now is the
The maintenance of the balance Of power" in Europe
has been the standing excuse for of the great
powers in the settlement OF any dispute involving er1'oy
Whenever the Balkan countries became involved in war
England and Germany invariably insisted on taking finger
in the of peace lest the balance of power be disturbed
When any diplomatic struggle involving any two European
the balance of power ever the slogan
raised for interference from the outside
At the present time the military balance of power is
making its influence felt in the field of diplomacy as wen as
in the battle The onward sweep of the Icuonc al
lies in Poland has raised crisis in the war SITUATION "hch
the ngloFranco allies must solve or see
themselves oustripped by their Ieuonic adversarles A
least this the only reasonable Interpretation to be put upon
the being put forth by n nd U o n Ie
the Balkan states to enter the war on the side OF the qn
Let glance for moment at the latest developments
conflict that have constrained the allies to seek add-
tional strength While the German drive toward pars was
peu gained enabled the Germans to secure control OF vast
amount of territory from which the allies have been unable
to dislodge them.
Whatever may be views regarding the progress made
by the Germans, in the western field of conflict con-
oned by the fact that peace were to be made to-day the
Teutonc allies would be found to control absolutely large
part of northern France with its valuable mines and vast in
dusral interests well Belgium. With the exception
Of small bit Of territory in the province of Alsace no Ger
many territory in continental Europe occupied to-day by
the allies and the fighting is all being done on the territory
Of Germany's enemies
The Germans have not only taken Warsaw, with its
they also sweeping back the Russian hosts that
is omnous for the Cars grand Some idea OF the
extent OF the Germans progress can be gained from he TACT
that they have not only taken practically all Poland but also
irresistible drive having taken Lbau the Baltic and
large territory round about The city of Kovno some fifty
showing that the latter do not expect to be able to interrupt
the of the Germans until sheer distance forces them
to exhaust themselves in their victorious sweep.
In the meantime the only question regarding the Rus
sian forces as to the number who must fall into the hands
We're made IN connection with the taking or Warsaw the
Russian forces having retired in safety The Germans are
alone the surrounding of the Russian host with surrender
result is the only outcome that have conclusive
effect.
Present indications that the fate of the Russian
les is now hanging by thread The great pncefs whose
coming closer and closer to their and the Grand Duke
Nicholas of Russia will accomplish military miracle if af
the Polish capital and having held it almost unbelievable
length of time he should now succeed in saving the bulk of
his forces The situation in the face of the operations of
General Won Bueow in the region of Riga the Baltic is
particularly perilous.
battle could be forced under present conditions the advan
tage would almost inevitably rest with the Kasers legon
That the overshadowng consideration and this realization
coupled with the inability of the western allies to break
through the German lines is what is forcing the allies to seek
Bulgaria frankly admits it ready to fight but it must
realize it's ambition for expansion in securing new territory
demanding that part of Macedonia awarded to Seria and
the close of the Balkan The allies unable
to make promise this direction because Greece bitterly
opposes that will add largely to the Bulgarian Dos
sessions Greece would thus seem to dominate the Balkan
situation to marked degree.
Roumania has thus far seriously blocked Germarys
by refusing to permit ammunition and other war
supplies pass through her territory to the Turks and but
for the of the German in Poland Roumana
would probably have joined the allies before this time In
der existing conditions the allies will hardly be able to induce
the Balkan powers to participate in the until the fate of
the Russian armies is definitely known If the Russians
able to act the adage that he who fights and
will live to fight another day. then will be only question
of time when the Russians will be able to match forces with
the Kaiser If the Germans, the other hand succeed in
envelopng the Russian forces then will be long time be,
fore the Gar mobilize and equip another army if
the Kaiser does succeed in forcing him to terms
In the meantime Germany also has another string to
it's military bow Sweden has long coveted its ancient prov
of Finland and the German emperor has shrewdy led
the TO n
allies they gain the goal Of their ambitions in that
direction The Swedes have been exhibiting evidences of
hostility toward Russia of late Embodened by the
that has crowned the German In Russia the Swedish
government has been making warke preparations and it
be surprising time if Sweden entered the
as an ally of the Teutonc forces.
The allies hope to block German diplomatic designs in
Just Germany seeks to put obstacles in the allies
path Balkans The of European diplomacy thus
continues while international issues being fought
the battlefield The chances that in few days de-
veopmens may change the situation particularly if the
British department meets the worlds expectations by
doing the unexpected"
the head of that beautiful sheet of rubltyy If Vermont were State