The Washington times., 1915-06-21
TWO MORE YEARS OF WAR


Mr.. Lloyd George is quoted as
saying that "the war is not likely
to end for two or three years more"
and the most informed students of
it believe he is right. There is al
ways the possibility that some tre-
mendous coup Of the battlefield may
hasten the finish; but every month
Of warfare in present style lessons
the probability of this. The far
greater probability is that a great
naval engagement, resulting in the
destruction or hopeless crippling of
the German navy, might force the
end. It, seems almost possible, now,
to lay down the dictum that there is
no such thing, any longer, as a deci-
sive battle on such scale as vital
ly to influence the outcome Of such
war. Suppose a greater Sedan
should put Russia or Austria out of
the fighting: the war would go on.
It is impossible to conceive such an
operation; but if it were possible, it
would not end the war.
Sea power is the one military arm
that may yet bring single great
determinative clash; and sea power
has retired, after its fashion, into
its trenches, just as the armies have
done. It is waiting for the great
moment of opportunity; and it has
waited near a year.
Diplomacy is almost as hopeless,
SO far as bringing a quick end is
concerned. Just as putting one en-
pire out Of business would not in
sure a quick end, so the addition of
a group Of small states would not
have more immediate effect. If
Russia could be crushed, it would
rather mean a longer war. If Aus
tria could be crushed it would mean
a shorter war, but yet a long one.
AS a matter Of fact Russia cannot
be crushed; the probability of Aus
tria suffering that fate has gone
glimmering for long period of the
future at least, and it may safely be
set down that these are the only
possibilities Of such a great coup
being perpetrated.
Figures which are published to-
day on the loss of human material
since the war began suggest that
the end may be forced at last by
the literal exhaustion of the sup
plies Of men. These figures are said
to have been given publicity by the
German consul at Denver, and to
represent Red Cross information.
They are appalling beyond possi-
bility of expression. Thus the wars
dead in the first six months of the
struggle are stated at 2,146,OOO; the
seriously wounded, at 1,15O,OO0; the
prisoners, at 1,764,000; the slightly
wounded, at 3,7s1, 900. 1t is impos-
sible to accept these calculations.
Leaving out the Slightly wounded"
there still remains a total of $780,
900 men killed, seriously wounded,
or prisoners. The classification of
wounded justifes the assumption
that those seriously wounded" have
been rendered unfit for return to
service, at least for early return.
Keeping in view the statement
that these figures purport to repre-
sent the first six months of the war
that is, till the early days of Jan
uary-it Is necessary in projecting
them to the present to increase the
totals by certainly one-third; which
would give total Of 10000, 900 men
dlled, wounded, or prisoners; a to-
tai Of about 6,70o, 900 men killed, in
capacitated by wounds, or prisoners.
If such stupendous totals could
be accepted, it would be apparent
that the opposing sides must be
fled down in another year to where
the peace of desolation would set
lie over Europe. But 1t is fairly to
be assumed that these figures are
made with a view to giving the
Germanic side the better showing.
They indicate, when totals are COM
pared, that the losses of Germany
and Austria are rather less than |
one-half those of the entente DOW
ers. It is not likely that such a
view will be given serious consider
alton, for the sacrifice of men by the
German commanders has been one |
IF the notable and astounding fea-
lures Of the war from the very be-
ginning.
If the figures for Germany and
Austria be assumed to be fairly ac-
;urate, then it may be within reason
% guess that these losses have been
duplicated on the other side, making
he total of killed, wounded, and
prisoners considerably over 5,OO0,-
100. On that basis, even, the same
ate could not be continued two or
hree years longer. But if the