The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-12-11
BY G.. X. Chesterton,
the Famous English EssayIst.

A DANGER has recently developed for
~ which some OF US have been watching
Tor some time. I take here the oppor-
tunity OF adverting to II and the circumstances
which make II q grave one. The ruling minds
OF Prussia know by this time quite as we'll as
the ruling minds on the Great Alliance. that
Prussia cannot now be saved by Bulgaria. II
she could. she might very well think such
rescue worse than ruin.
IL would certainly be an amusing ending 10
the world epic of the great Teuton II he were
saved In damaged condition by a small slav.
The whole business began with the anger OF
Berlin when three OF the Balkan princes were
strong enough to defeat the Turkish Empire. II
would be funny. and far from soothing to the
anger of Berlin. IL the whole business ended By
one OF the balkan princes being strong enough
to rescue the German Empire.
But such a conclusion is far too entertaining
to be true. In seeking this diversion IN the
Balkans the German Government is not so silly
as TO suppose that France. Russia and Britain.
all unconquered and increasing in power, can
be destroyed by King Ferdinand and his rather
reluctant subjects. The German Government
does not hope that the disturbance will procure
a permanent victory. But the German Govern.
ment does hope that It will procure a temporary
peace. And II is exactly at this moment that
largely unconseiously. begun to work in the
same direction.
The situation can be summed I'D with as
much certainty as simplicity:
year ago Prussia wanted war because she
wanted domination. To-day Prussia wants
peace because she wants domination
II the reader will merely put himself for an
instant In the position OF Prussian to-day, he
VIII see that peace. and nothing but peace, is
now his last hope OF ultimate triumph: the one
road left open to his original imperial goal
Peace. If he can get it at once. is for the
Prussian purely military manoeuvre like re-
treat The evacuation OF Belgium, even
might be as much a part of his plan as was
the invasion OF Belgium
Peace. at this moment simply means that
he viii fall back on his own fortiacations On
the Rhine. exactly he fell back on his own
Notifications on the Aisne. We should await
his counter-attack.
Some considerable time ago noted on tbi.
page that Mr.. Charles Buxton had entered a
Well-meaning but ill-considered plea. urging ma
TO be content with partial or rather negative
sunccess He has revived II in a letter 20 tba
Daily Chronicle. He does not indeed exuressi,
advise the arrangement which he thinks tina,
Germany would accept. but he speaks Of &,
hopefully. as IL It were a kind Of good news.
and he contrasts it with the tone OF the pessI.
mist press, for which he expresses a very ips,
contempt
But ! confess that II thought our utnos,
Efforts could achieve nothing but the peace
there sketched out I should be fairly pessl
mistic myself For the peace there sketcbed
out Is simply the very nearest to g. Prusslan
triumph that even Prussia can for the moment
expect. AT the same time. a number of 70.
spectacle names. such as those OF Dr. Horton
and Mr.. J. A. Hobson. are found IN support a,
some such patchwork arrangement
The question OF an inconclusve peace which
shall leave an unrepentant Prussia AZ Inc 49,
OF an undeteated German race. Is nov for tho
hrst time seriously brought before US I vvo1iS
s ssK me reader to regard Il n The ight of the
following considerations NV