The Washington times., 1915-08-09
MUKDEN AND WARSAW

Mukden was the greatest battle
the world had known and recorded
in history, down to its time. The
German general staff learned much
from the Manchuria war, and ap-
piled the lessons in the Poland cam
paign which is still being pressed.
The double flanking movement was
employed at Mukden, and again in
Poland. Mukden was rendered un-
tenable, and had to be abandoned;
the same happened at Warsaw. The
Russian army squeaked out Of Muk-
den, not without immense losses,
however, through the neck of the
iron bottle in which the Japanese
had almost corked it up. The Rus
sian forces in and Immediately about
Warsaw were threatened in like
fashion, and in like fashion escaped.
At least, despite heavy losses, the
Russian armies have retained their
organization and mobility; they are
able to make a tremendous resist
ance yet; and they are still retiring
and fighting as they go.
The Russians retired toward the
north after Mukden, pulled them
selves together, entrenched and
awaited another attack. The Japa-
nese never made it, because, in all
probability, they dared not take the
chance. 1t involved yet longer ex-
tension of their lines, the possibility
that the Russians would outnum-
ber them and perhaps inflict a dis
aster.
Mukden did not win the war for
Japan, though it was a great vic
tory. 1t did not win the war because
it took a city but not an army. The
Kaiser proposes if it is humanity
possible to accomplish what the Jap
anese did not do; to take the army
of his enemy.
He will probably not do it. Rus
sia in Europe is too vast and vague,
just as Manchuria was. The Poles,
the Swedes, the French even, have
sent armies as far as Moscow; none
came back without disaster. That
Germany will do better, or attempt
to do so much, is not to be believed.
Nothing less than an insane exalta-
tion of confidence would induce Ger
many to undertake, especially in the
conditions of the present war, a real
conquest of Russia.
1t is, therefore, probable that the
report from Petrograd that Germany
approached Russia with proposals
for peace, is to be given credit. To
defeat Russian arms is one thing; to
conquer Russia is another. The Rus
SLAMS know this as we'll as other
students of their history. If Ger
many made a peace suggestion it is
in fact confession of weakness, of
loss of confidence when the impossi-
bic is faced.
There will be no separate peace in
this war. 1t is Europe against Prus.
sianism, and on that issue the end
will be reached. Russia would be al
the mercy of Germany for genera.
tions if she should desert her allies
now; she could not hope for thei,
support at later period, and even a
Germany finally defeated in the
present war would find means to re.
cuperate for a further assault or
Russia. It is the misfortune Of
Russia that, though she cannot be
conquered, she can be cut off from
the seas. She has been held bach
from the open water for centuries
to fail now is to accept that more
centuries, in all probability, mus
pass before another equally favor
able opportunity shall present itself
The fall of Warsaw will seem al
most a minor incident as compared
to the restoration of the Balkan
League, if that shall be accomp
lished. The entente powers, fal
from being discouraged by reason o.
the Poland defeats, seem to be max
ing political gains in Bahama. i
is reported that Serbia is at length
willing to yield the territorial con
cessions that Bulgaria has demand
ed in Macedonia, in order to bring
Bulgaria into the war with the en-
tente. If it be true, it will doubles.
be followed by like concession b!
Greece; and then will remain only t,
secure the assent of Roumania.
In the first Balkan war the worlt
got the notion that the Bulgars wer'
doing most of the business. The!
were lauded as the greatest fight
ers of all time. Their press agent
even filled the Bulgarian people will
the idea that they had really defeat
ed Turkey; and when that was owe
Sofia insisted on a share of the spoil
commensurate with the exaggerate,
Bulgar impression as to what ha,
been earned. The second R,lLa,