Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-06-30
ONE YEAR OF WAR AND
END NOT IN SIGHT,
STILL NOBODY'S FIGHT

ler now much longer the war NAV last
Russia will probably be unable TO again
seriously threaten German territory.
Inc collapse of Russia. the breakdown
OF the steam roller, is the most erusb.
my fact of the war. Russia's allies
ana particularly England, expected the
oIaVN last summer to prove themselves
the decisive factor in the war The in.
fenor military capacity demonstrated
by the Russians against the Japauese
was ignored and a new birth of strateg.
ic genius was expected to occur in the
cars empire, which would carry tbe
Russian arms across Germany TO Ber.
lin, In those days, which now seem 70
fade into the middle ages, people were
asking wonderingly why the prideful
Germans had never fortified Berlin.
This inexplicable circumstance was ex.
pectcd to be of great assistance TO tbe
SIavS, and was counted upon to permit
the steam roller to move unimpeded
along the Inter Den Linden.
But the past four seasons of fighting
have shown that an Empire not effic.
iently guided in the days of peace can.
not suddenly transform itself into an
effective organization for war after
hostilities break out Modern warfare
has proven itself TO be the most techni.
cal of all the arts and professions; but
at the same time, it has demonstrated
that the qualities Of leadership it de.
mandS do not differ in nature from
those capacities for organization,
thoroughncsS and quick decision which
raise a nation industrially to the first
rank, Russia, n second class industrial
nation, in peace, has proven herself to
be second class fighting nation in war.
The past year has shown that she is
paving the usual penalty for ineffici.
ency Had the facts been otherwise,
had Russia revealed a special aptitude
for war, the absomtist sway Of the
cars would have become Europe s new
peril after the end Of the present war.
But, civilization has been saved from
that peril, and Russia has been taught
that she must work ont her destiny by
peaceful effort.
The French army committed three
bmdors early I'm the war bnf since
then, IFS commanders have raualled the
Germans in qualities of leadership and
its rank and file have shown the higa.
est courage The carly French mis-.
takes were due 10 the same rau,cs-in.
fcriority F subordinate leadership.
and indcrision I'm the ranks owiua TO
rcrollcctions Of the FrancoPm,sian
war. Poor leadership was responsible
for too rapid advances into Southern
Alsace and western Lorraine last sum.
mrr. When thr Germans delivered
their corutcrstrokes. there was a panic
among the Frcncn and no subsequent
efforts have been able TO recover the
ground that was lost in the French re.
treat.
The third. and by far the most seri-
ous Of the French errors occurred dur.
ing the fightinp in southeastern Bel
gium. and especially in the Alrennes
forest district Here bad French STRAIT
egr. coupled once more with panic in
the ranks, permitted tine Germans ia
begin their marvellous advance on Paris
that ended with the delivery of Joffrc IS
mostcrly comter offensive east Of
Paris The victory of the Marine, and
tbp redoubtabo Won Kuck's flight be.
fore tbe attacking French troops that
had been concentrated secretly in Par.
is producpd an instantaneous recovery
Of morale throughout France.
During the dark days of the retreat
from Beloium. many peoplo in Paris
wcro urginp an immediate peace with
Germany 70 save tine Repnhlic. But
after .Ioffre had shown that the Ger.
mans could be beaten, a spirit Of ma
tionol reiuveration appeared, aud the
crootion Of n now France began. Even
tboupb tho French army advances no
further than the present battle line,
France will emerge from the war with
her sclf.confidencc restored for the
first time since it was shattered in
ls70.TI Wnateycr the terms Of peace
NAV rive TO the French people. this
viii be their greatest prize; that they
have learned to stand stcalfast in the
'oce of the enemy
The British army's work in the war
vas most effectively done during the
ctreat to Paris. British troo7s pro.
cctci the left flank Of the allies and
prevented Won Kluck's from carrying
mt his cucircling objective. Not only
vas an overwhelming disaster thus pre-
.cnted, but the French were given time
o steady themselves for the ultimate
Ieliycry Of Joffrc' s comierstroke. The
treat army that the British empire has
aised by lis volunteer system, has yet
10 make itself felt in the struggle u
8 lacking in equipment and mas nor
lcen able to demonstrate its run worth
against the Germans Elsewhere now.
ever troops Of the British empire nave