The daily Alaskan., 1915-01-27
ALL NECTRALS LOSE

Lovers of peace have made much of the effect which the most terrible of all wars must have upon the feel iugs of the world in regard to the horrors Of the battlefield, says the Cleveland Leader. They have dwe.t hopefully upon the shock which civ ilized nations have experienced by coming face to face with the sayagery and agonies of the great conflict In these conditions they have found strong reasons for be- lieving that the fearful struggle In progress may go far toward pre- venting wars all the years to come.
 Another very important effect of the tremendous death grapple be- tween nations armed and eQuip2el IS nations never were before, is of len overlooked by advocates of peace. They miss the full signLfi- canoe of the losses which the war has brought upon all neutral countries. They have failed to emphasize as they might the force Of the object lesson taught nations which feel secure against attack from any quarter.
 There were many in all lands who believed, before the present struggle began, that war would make good times in neutral coun- tries. They felt sure that if two nations or ten plunged into a bitter conflict other states standing safely aloof would find their trade .n- creased and their industries stimu- lated.
 Now all that is changed. It is realized everywhere that neutral countries are losing by the war in stead of gaining. It is perceived that peace would be better for the world and for every nation in it. great or small, near the scene of conflict or far removed. It is un- terstood that the best which tan be hoped for as the result of the war, in neutral states, is that its inevitable losses may be offset, in large measure, by it's gains.
 In the United States, as the ore most of the neutral countries, it is too plain to be doubted now tha. the war has been a great misfor- tune All that is hoped for here is to reduce it's ills to the minimum and obtain as much benefit as pos sible from it's abnormal conditions 10 offset it's warte and its obst7uc- ton of trade and industry. Bust- ness men in America are not dis outraged by the war. They do not fear that 1t will prevent the growth and prosperity of the United States. They are planning largely for the widest possible utilization of it's unusual opportunities. But they are not blind to the fact that peace would improve the prospects of American business and promote the industrial and commercial expan- sion of the country.
 The neutral countries closest to the theater of the war-Holland, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Greece and the rest all feel keenly the evil effects of the vast struggle. Their traffic is iuterfered with, their industries aie demoralized. They are subjected to unusual expenses and burdens and their income is diminished. It is an effect of the war which is uni yersal.
 This object lesson, on an un- precedented scale, will do much to turn the world more strongly than ever before against war, and it will lead to moro vigorous and hopeful efforts to maintain the international amity which gives progress and prosperity their best opportunities. It Is a force on the side of permd- nent peace the power of which will be better understood the longer the war goes on. It makes its appeal not to sentiment and love of hu- manity but to the always active and always potent Belf-interest of all nations.