The Nome daily nugget., 1915-02-10

during the Balkan war being indicated as an example of what might be ex- pected. It was also the general opin- ion, seemingly, that the force which first obtained a decisive advantage whelming power of modern arms to force the conflict to a speedy termina-
 That the majority of these conclusions were wrong as regards the length of time. the later developments have ent that the main reason asCribed as probable cause for a rapid conclusion is rapidly becoming secondary. It is true that the first startling rush of the German forces gave considerable weight to that view as did also the almost appalling quickness of the fall of that supposedly impregnable fort ress, Antwerp. the latter especially seeming to sustain the theory of an
 
 ever. are showing that even with the present development of the various engines of destruction used by modern armies they are not proving that they are as overwhelmingly potent in fore ] ing an end as was popularly supposed. 1 Not that the preconcieved ideas of the deadlness of modern forces of destruc- ton have not been fully vindicated. for the contrary is the case. The reason l lies rather in the fact that the ready 1 ingenuity of man has speedily found a means to successfully reduce the capa- extent and, while it is conceded that their execution has proven painfully 1 great it is by no means demonstrated that such execution will become the primary reason for bringing the war to an end within the limits of even the longest period conjectured four months lago The present deadlock in the Franco Belgian war zone is demon strating the fact that causes other than | the deadly power of modern arms may Vet prove to he the determining factors l in ending the conflict. That this rapid ized by the belligerent nations is shown ! by the tremendous efforts now being made to hinder or destroy, if not the sources. at least the means of obtaining supplies As at the outset a possible 1 lack of men is seemingly little con- sidered The thought which is becom 1 ing manifestly dominant is the possi hility of starving the enemy out or of stopping the acquisition of materials waich may be used against an enemy l,a through this means forcing him to W t,hdraw As further evidence II may be cited that England is already di~eussing the proba bility of a food sh, rtage compelling a cessation of the German hostilities and it is apparent that Germany hopes to strike her most deadly blow through iSolating England ty means of submarines
 Considered from the standpoints of men and arms alone. the losses, as iu- dicated by the official lists are about equal on both sides and are by no raeans as enormous as the powers of | destruction employed would suggest. Al the present rate of deeimation it is Cl'ar that any one of the five great na- 1 tipns involved could continue the strug- gle for two or even three years more a'.d still have an army of sufficient size as 10 furnish q most formidable de- felsc against the eneroachments of an enemy who had equally shared the vi cssitudes of war for a similar period of time.
 | All considered it appears that despite the tremendous powers of destruction employed during the long period of bit ter and sanguinary conflict, the war ring nations are becoming convinced that the conclusion may not be speedily won by men and guns alone and are