South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-11-15
SAYS BALKANS Is
KEY TO SITUATION
J. L. GarVin Tells How War Can
Be Won at Least
Cost.
BY j. L. Garvfn.

LONDON, Nov. 1.-THE principle
OF victory that might have been adopt
ed six or nine months ago is plain 70
the allies. The wrong plan has been
pursued and the right plan. il is now
agreed. must be carried out with con-
centrated energy.
One way 10 win the war at the least
cost and with the surest effect was 20
break down Turkey first. then Austria.
then Germany and il remains a funds-
mental proposition. The Balkans are
as certainly the key C europe IN this
business as ConstantinCple is the key
TO the Balkans. The Germans must
be weakened in the west by losses and
diversions elsewhere before they are
smashed in the Balkans. II the Ger
mans be thwarted and held in that
quarter they are thwarted and held
everywhere else and we viii not only
win. but we will shorten the war.
In Excellent Position.
The allies are in excellent position
to start again Everything shows that
there is intense popular hardship and
suffering in Germany. That country is
near the height OF its purely military
successes. Germany can go a long
way vet, but at the end OF the way
she already sees the spectres OF want.
ruin and the exhaustion OF men.
money and TO a large extent Of fight
ing materials. Meanwhile TIE press
ure OF the British blockade viii be
come more severe and British subma-
rines foreshadow what must ultimate
~ happen in the Baltic For this
reason. all Germany, from her rulers
down, longs for peace, which from our
point Of view would be bad and fatal
peace
Plausible peace proposals almost
certainly will be made before long.
If England listened TO them, in Ger
tain number Of years hence, England
would be attacked singly Germany
would look to gain all at Britain's eX-
pense. If we reject these proposals.
as we shall-then the central empires
will rouse themselves next year for
the final struggle with supreme energy.
For that struggle, the British war
board and war policy must prepare.
They have obviously to meet and break
the plan of an enemy who has grasp
ed the initiative anew.
The Germans think that under the
present circumstances they can hold
the allies in the west After master
ing the Balkans they mean TO mobilize
the Turks against both Russian and
Britain. They will then carry out
and Persia as surely as they have
carried out their strong plans against
Serbia
They reckon that they then will con
strain ROumania as they have secured
Bulgaria and paralyzed Greece. Final
" thehy hope to wear out Russia by
a renewed offensive next year, partly
by war entertainments in some regions
and partly by war maneuvers carried
out in other regions with the full use
of their railways.
Says Hope Abandoned.
The Germans no longer hope TO win.
They know there is no longer a posi-
bility OF that, but they hope and
reckon that in a year hence the allies
Will be no nearer attainment OF any
Of their declared detectives. that gen
eral exhaustion and weakness. poIiti-
cal division and popular discomfort
will bring about an inconclusive peace
relatively favorable to the central en-
pires and Turkey.
That is the German plan. What we
have to do is utterly defeat them. We
never can defeat them, however IN
less by insuring the mastery OF the
Balkans. The allies must insure the
total overthrow OF both Turkey and
Austria in order 20 settle thoroughly
with Germany afterward.
Fifty women take an active part in
the municipal governments OF
Il