The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-08-13
Reuie1ol SFItRe War

=
TINE NATION. reviewing the first year Of the
l war, agrees with British writer that so
far the Germans have won rather than the Allies"
nasmuch as Teuton armies are operating on for
eign soil and the Allies occupy only small sec
ton OF German sterritory, in Alsace Even ION
this basis" however the Nation sees no reason
why the Allies should lose a ''jot Of heart or
hope" .@ *.
"One reason says the review, may be seen in
the attitude of the German government itself. 1t
is unquestionaby ready for peace. And It would
accept peace which, from the German point OF
view, would be on very reasonable terms, These,
of course, have nowhere been formulated, Yet the
limitations Of their general nature have been too
thick and too.autkbritatve 20 admit Of much doubt
that If, for example, Germany could end the war.
tomorrow by going back to the status quo ante,
she would lump at the chance. Now, what does
this signify ina military sense? The inference is
unavoidable that the Germans no longer think
themselves able to impose their will upon Europe
Great and wonderful has been their display Of
fighting power they are not deceived by 1t into
thinking that they can change the map of Europe
at their pleasure. They know what a terrible
price they have already paid Moreover, the
greater their exertion of military strength, the
clearer the evidence Of its real failure This IS
not meant as a paradox. The whole German
By a series OF swift and bloody strokes, Germany
was quickly to garner the advantages of her long
years of preparation Paris was surely to be taxi
en- ast-September By January, Germany was to
be in position to dictate peace But here we
are at the end of July, with the prospect OF the
war going over another winter. Germany may
be invincible but her plans of last year have
broken down, and her rulers and her people
know it. ..a&#%& -. sse.#,s
And il, from the .huctuating battle-lines, west,
north, and south, we look to the large and steady
elements of strength on the part of the Allies, we
may well understand how they believe that time
is fighting on their side, and that all they have
do is to set their teeth and see the thing through
First of all comes the great fact OF their having
absolute control OF the sea. From it German COM
MERGE has been swept clean The German navy
for offensive purposes-excepting the submarines,
and even they have been able barely to gnaw at
the real sea-power of England-is if it did not
exist. And this hampering of Germany heighten-
ed by the spectacle of her colonies falling one
after another, islikey to be even more severe and
| telling as the months go by. nation whose
whole industrial life has been for years shaped for
overseas commerce cannot be cut Oft from the
ocean indefinitely without receiving vital juries
And the Dardanelles campaigns not to be thought
of as an isolated venture It is, in the first place
| one evidence more OF what sea-powef means, and
it is also far-sighted movement which, if pushed
to success, may prove far more important than any
battle fought in Galicia or in France With Con
stantinople captured, Russia free to come and &c
| in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, and all
the Balkan states wheeling into line with the
Allies, the German cause would have suffered a
fatal blow In that case, the Allies, too, would
have their giant pncers, closing from the North
] Sea and from the ,BOSDhOruS
| Thus we think that cool estimate of the actua
forces pitted against each other is not discour
aging for the Allies the present superficial
military situation might seem. The ultimate re,
sources are theirs; and if determination is moi
acking-as there is not the slightest evidence that
it is-they will be the lords of their fate"