The Washington times., 1915-11-06

cOntlnental DulWark. In the words
Of Lord Kitchener, pronounced years
before this war began, "The British
empires frontier in Europe is not
the channel, but the Meuse line"
STAGING THE GREAT STRUGGLE
Many weeks ago, when the Ger
man drive into Russia was begin
ming to slacken and the Serbian
campaign was appearing as the next
move in German strategy, The
Times predicted that the Near East
would presently be the scene Of the
most absorbing events of the war.
That prediction has been vindicated.
Whether viewed from the military
or from the diplomatic standpoint.
the developments Of today must be
recognized as profoundly import
ant.
Not only is the mere military de-
tail Of the wars direction and man.
agement involved, but, as in no
other theater, the events in the
Balkan region affect the future of
continents, seas, empires; of vast
stretches Of the earth's surface
they have to do with the future in
stitutions, civilizations, tendencies,
Of a vast share of the people Of the
world. It is not beyond reason to
say that the processes of civilization,
extending into future of many
centuries, will pivot on the events
that will determine the fate Of Bal
kania,. Of Constantinople, the Le-
want, the Mesopotamia, the Suez
canal, the road to India, the high.
way to all the eastern world. What
Africa and Asia will be to the world
Of a thousand years hence is in q
large way being determined by the
, occurrences in the mountains OF
Serbia and on the plain Of Thes.
sally these very days.
Today there comes from thi.
crucial region report that a British
force Of 10000 men has been landed
and is starting a diversion agains
Bulgaria. More troops are beini
brought into the action as fast a,
the transports Of the naval power
), . can carry them; the number tina
will at length face each other II
this dramatic third act Of the wa
cannot yet be guessed. The militar.
events await, for their final shaping
:, the determination Of kings, cabinets
: and parliaments. Greece on yester
, day gave sign Of the purpose Of it
= people by rejecting. through it
= parliament, the Zaimis government
1t was the hand and the voice Q
. Venizelos that directed the COUP
s :. Venizelos, the statesman Of unite
- - Bahama, the bette noir Of the Turl
= = the author Of the Balkan allianc
= = that made and gloriously won tn
y = war of 1911; Venizelos. who stand
- - for new and greater Greece as tn
- patient, daring, resourceful Cavor
. stood for the rehabilitation of Ital
% " it may we'll be questioned wheths
=, - there is a statesman in Europe
:. = compare to this real leader of Il
y Greek nation. The hostility of 9
:. alien king may make it impossib
- for Venizelos, after his short retir
.; ment, to resume the reins Of rul
=. but whether he shall head a ne
=. y cabinet or not, it may be set dow
>, that the acts of the Athens COVER
=, ment will presently have to be ma
" :; consonant with the purposes al
" ambitions with which he has ar
~ mated his people. Greece will n
always submit to betrayal.
70. With Greece goes Roumania; a,
- there are signs that both countri
~ are getting ready for the determi
ing plunge into the war. 1t is cs
nd tain that neither of them will 81
&C against the allies; certain that be
on will be benevolent in their neutrali
so long as they maintain it; certs
that if they are forced into the "
they will stand with the entente.
year hence the world will probat
be wondering no Wit could ever ha
Tvs doubted that both these countri
led so little and yet SO vitally imports
ch- in the worlds struggle, would
ep. drawn into the conflict.
de- If they come in; especially if ii
nat come together; then will be sigma
Ter, the beginning of the end for G
of man power. The drive throu
Serbia will prove the tragic blum
the of German military policy. The
cen lies understand; they are prepal
ent resolutely to dispute the German
self gression in this quarter to the W
ion end. The British people have at |
632 been aroused to realize that
of backbone of their empire is thre
Nh ened. They are prepared as q