Evening journal., 1915-06-28
Anniversary Of the SerajevO Fight
Finds Eleven Nations in War That
Is a Bitter Deadlock Today

nored and new birth of strategic gen
Jus was expected to occur in the Cars
Empire, which would carry the Russian
arms across Germany to Berlin. In
those days, which now seem to fade
into the middle ages, people were ask
ing wonderinglv why the prideful Ger
mans had never fortified Berlin. This
inexplicablo circumstance was expected
10 be Of great assistance TO the Slays
and was counted upon 70 permit the
steam roller TO move unimpeded along
the Inter Den Linden.
But the past four seasons OF fight
ing have shown that an empire not
sufficiently guided in the days OF
peace cannot suddenly transform it.
self into an effective organization for
war after hostilities break out. Mod
ern warfare has proven itself to be
the most technical of all the arts and
professions; but at the same time. it
has demonstrated that the qualities Of
leadership il demands are not differ
ent in nature from those capacities
for organization, thoroughness and
quick decision which raise a nation
industrially to the first rank. Russia.
"a second class industrial nation In
peace, has proven herself to be a
second class fighting nation in war
The past year has shown that she is
paying the usual penalty for ineffi-
cheney. Had the facts ueen other
wise. had Russia revealed a special
aptitude for war; the absolutist sway
Of the Cars would have become Eu-
ropes new peril after the end of the
present war. But civilization has
been saved from that peril. and Rus
sia has been taught that she must
work out her destiny by peaceful ef-
fort.
The French army committed three
plumbers early in the war. but since
then. its commanders have eQualled
the Germans in qualities Of leadership
and its rank and file has shown the
highest courage. The early French
mistakes we're due to the same causes
--inferioritv of subordinate leadership
and INDIGESTION in the ranks owing 10
recollections of the Franco Prussian
war Poor leadership was RESPONSE
bic for too rapid advances into
Southern Alsace and western Lor-
raine last summer. When the Ger
mans delivered their counterstrokes
/ there was a panic among the French,
and no subsequent efforts have been
able to recover the ground that was
lost In the French retreat.
The third. and by far the most Sc
rious Of the French errors occurred
during the fighting in southeastern
France, especially in the Ardennes
forest district Here. bad French
strategy, coupled once mere with pan
ic in the ranks. permitted the Ger
mans TO begin their marvellous adj
vance on Paris that ended with the
delivery Of Joffre's mastery counter
offensive east of Paris The victory of
the Marine and the redoubtable Won
/ kluck's fight before the attacking
/ French troops that had been concen-
itrated secretly in Paris. produced an
instantaneous recovery Of morale
throughout France.
During the dark DAYS Of the retreat
1 from Belgium. many people In Paris
we're urging an immediate peace with
Germany to save the republic But.
after Joffre had shown that the Ger
mans could be beaten. a spirit Of ma
tional regeneration appeared and the
creation of new France began Even
though the French army advances no
further than the present battle line.
France will emerge from the war with
her self confidence restored for the
first time since il was shattered in
1S70-71 Whatever the terms of peace
may give TO the French people. this
will be their greatest prize: that they
have learned to stand steadfast in the
face Of the enemy.
The British army's work in the war
was most effectively done during the
retreat to Paris British troons pro-
tected the left flank of the allies and
prevented Won Kluck's army from car
rying out its encirclins obiectise. Not
only was an Overwhelming disaster
thus prevented. but the French we're
given time 10 steady themselves for
the ultimate delivery of Joffre's coun-
terstroke. The great army that the
British empire has raised by its vol
unteer system. has vet 10 make itself
felt in the struggle Il Is lacking in
equipment and has not been able to