New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-12
Taking Account of Allied Stock.

10 recall the words ascrbed to linden
burg-"This war" he is reported to have
said. will he won by those who have the
strongest nerves" Exactly a year age
the world was ringing with the recent
German achievements. Antwerp had just
fallen. A victorious German army was
approaching Warsaw and the Russian
armies in Galica were in retreat.
This was time when the depression
IN Allied capitals was profoundest This
depression in an acute form was to linger
until the close of the two battles of
Flanders. which demonstrated that Ant
werp had been a local, not decisive. sue
cess. year ago the German sympa-
thzers were telling the world the war
was about won. Certainly they were as
warranted in saying il then as now, when
all the familiar claims are put forth again.
But a year has passed since Antwerp
fell and the war is not yet won. In that
year Italy has entered the strife on the
Allied side and Great Britain has enlisted
1900. 900 men. a third of which, at the
east. are now on the Continent AS against
this. Germany has enlisted the Turk and
the Bulgar, useful allies, assuredly, but not
10 be compared with Italy and Great
Britain.
Now. in this period Germany has won
in the East a tremendous campaign. She
has occupied many thousand square miles
of Russian territory and captured per-
haps 100000 Russians. She is now be-
ginning a third great campaign, this
time on the Danube, and every outward
indication points to her arrival at Con-
stantinople and TO the repetition in Serbia
Of her exploits in Belgium
But granted that Germany arrives at
the Golden Horn, what then? Peace?
The fail of Warsaw was to be the proof
Of the elimination of Russia. Yet the
Germans have taken both Warsaw ana
Brest-Litovsk and Russia is still fight
ing. still attacking at many point on her
7OO-mile battle line. More than this, not
few of the best informed German writ
ers like Rohrbach have publicly warned
their fellow countrymen against believing
reports that Russia will make a separate
peace.
Compare the situation of the Allies to-
day with that of year ago and only the
prejudiced can believe that their pros
poets have worsened. The British
blockade after year remains effective.
deadly. The German submarine block
ade" has failed. The Zeppelin menace
has become rather ghastly joke. On
the western front the German line has re-
coded only little, to be sure but per
ceptibly. In a word, France and Eng
land are in incomparably better posture
to-day than a year ago. And to them must
now be added Italy.
To strike Russia, Germany was COM
PEELED TO stand on the defensive in the
west. Now, as a consequence OF detach-
ing troops for use against Serbia, her East
ern campaign is falling to deadlock By
taking the defensive in the West she gave
France time to reorganize shattered
armies and Britain opportunity to raise
armies and mobilize industry.
Any long protracted pause in the East
must do the same for Russia, who has men
and only lacks equipment, which will
accumulate in any period of relative calm
Serbia disposed Of, Germany can then
in the spring if she chooses. attack Russia
or France and Britain, or Italy. But she
can attack only one. While she attacks, the
others will continue to grow stronger for
Britain has still 2,OOO,O 900 men to bring on
the field when they are trained and
equipped.
Now. it is entirely possible that German
success in the Balkans will break the
nerve of her foes. Russia may quit
Italy may give it up. France and Britain
may lose heart. This is what the Balkan
campaign is actually intended TO accom-
plish. This, more than all consideration
Of strategy, or even of craftsmanship
must explain the German excursion.
But if Allied nerves are not shaken, i
they persevere, what will Germany d,
next? What can she do 10 convince he
people that a victory, or peace on he
terms. is attainable? If she goes TO Rus
sla il will mean an endless campaign o
terrible losses, while Allied attacks multi
qly in the West, while the blockade holds
while the process Of economic suffocatioi
continues ineXorably.
And where is Germany 70 get the men
There is nothing more foolish than III,
current notion that the supply of mer
IN Germany is inexhaustible II is nothing
OF the Sort and on such supplies as sh,
had at the beginning Germany has drawn
Tar more heavily than her opponents have
on theirs. Prussian official statistics fol
inc hrst year admit 100000 in losses
The British loss was but 100000, and tn,
British population is greater than that Of
Prussia.
We IN America have pad perfect il