New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-10


able to dispose of one foe before the other
came on the field.
The German people believed year ago
that France was disposed of. They were
mistaken. They looked for peace with
France in early September. They had the
French answer at the Marine. For nine
months the German general staff has been
at work on the most stupendous and splen-
did piece of strategy the world has ever
seen. But the only possible outcome which
will satisfy German necessities is the elm
nation of Russia.
While Germany has been holding on in
the west and using her reserves, new for
nations, all her resources, with utter prodi-
gality in the east, Italy has entered the
war. England has got together new armies,
and France has reorganized her troops
and modified her industries Germany is
not only outnumbered in the west now,
but unless Russia retires from the field
she never can again meet France and Eng
land man for man in Flanders and North
ern France.
Patiently, Enthusiastically, Germany is
bleeding to death. She struck France and
France parried the blow. The western
campaign cost not less than 100000
casualties to the Germans and an equal
number TO the Anglo-French-Belgian
armies. Her eastern campaigns have cost
100000 more. Germany-so far as man
power is concerned-is more than half
done. and not one of her foes has yet been
crushed-unless Russia is now at the point
of yielding.
Peace alone can save Germany-peace
with one of her enemies, peace with Rus
STA or with France. Combined France,
England, Russia and Italy will defeat Ger
many as the North defeated the South for
precisely the same reasons. But at the
end of the first year of the Civil War the
showing of the South was far more i'm
pressivc than is that of the Germans now.
What Americans should never mistake is
the fact that the British, French, Russian
and Italian military leaders know this.
The peoples of these countries may have
doubts and fears, the military chiefs know
the mortality statistics.
Germany cannot be defeated until up
ward of 100000 Germans have been re-
moved from the battle line by death, capt
ure or disability. 1t will mean a casualty
list as large or larger for the Allies to &C
ccmplish this But their work is half done.
Germany has spent 100000 men and has
not won a decision. A similar loss with
SIMILAR failure will not mean defeat, it
will mean ruin.
The first crisis in the war was in the
days when the Germans approached Paris.
II was met by the tripartite agreement.
If Russia follows ahe French example now,
the second crisis will have ended in new
German disaster, which will not for long
he concealed from the German people
themselves. If Russia yields, we shall
then have the problem as to whether Ger
Ean losses in carrying Russian Poland
have left her permanently inferior in num-
CTS ~ 1 IdHtS, LIIEiduu anu lldlN'
There never was anything more certain
than that Germany would lose as Napo-
leon lost if she were faced with Napo-
leonic conditions. She has been faced by
them. She has won triumphs wholly COM
parable with those Of Napoleon, but his
peril remains hers. His efforts in 1914 to
Getach nations from the ranks of his enc
mics represented his last bid for existence.
The German tactics are not different. 1t
remains to be seen whether they will sue
coed; but if they fail, the end is assured.