Semi-weekly herald., 1915-11-01
THE WAR SITUATION.


The great Europ san was is ut its
most desperi Z stage. More lives
are beiny lost every week than at
any other period. The fighting is in
the Balkan peninsula, where the war
began, by the act of Austria declaring
war on Serbia. The German armies
are winning, as they have from the
start. 1t is desperation that wins bat
ties and the allies seem to have no
desperation. Possibly the French
army should be excepted from this
statement.
The Germans have suffered but one
conspicuous defeat since the begin
ming of the war. We refer to the
seven-day battle of the Marne, in the
front of Paris In this long and
bloody conflict the allies were vic
torious. But only few days later the
Germans were again triumphant on
the River Aisne, which is usually call
ed the battle of Aisne.
The Germans have been success
full on land and sea. With an insig
nificant navy they have almost neu-
tralized the British navy.
The Germans have made real sol
diers out of the Turks by furnish
ing them cannon and rifles, and also
furnishing them officers, who know
how to lead men to battle. The Turk
has always been brave enough and
cruel enough, but he has been lacking
in leadership. This deficiency is sup
piled by Germany. Germany has
been cultivating the Turks for many
years. Germans sold the Turks all
their munitions used in the wal
against the Balkan states in 1912.
Germany has been smart enough to
make on a.,isnce with Bulgaria, the
largest ond strongest of the Balkan
states. Bu ga,ia naturally ought to
fight en- the side of Russia for the
reason that Russia enYbled Bulgar
ia to throw of tine Turkish yoke
However, ob 'sations seem to rest
lightly when war is on The Bul-
garians are Il stalwart race, living
on tuinins, raoishes, onions and but
terir:lk. For n thousand years they
have been warriors. 1t would have
been difficult for the allies to have
secured the support of Bulgaria be
cause the alliesc already have the
support of Serbia. and between Bull
garia and Serbia there is rivalry
that has grown in bitterness as the
years go by. Each of these countries
wants to be the leading one in the
Balkan combination AT one time
Serbia controlled Bulgaria. The OLD
trouble between Serbia and Bulgaria
had not healed. Doubtless conspira-
tors were working up trouble be
tween Bulgaria and Serbia to prevent
any agreement between them. Con
spirators and spys were responsible
for the war between Bulgaria ano
Serbian in 1913. Skilful liars were
employed to keep the hatred boiling
Now Bulgaria has undoubtedly Sc,
cured such promises from Germany
as will subordinate all the other Bal
kan states. Bulgaria will be the lead
er. She will have king, and she will
practically boss the whole peninsula
Serbia will not secure a seaport which
has been the object of her long strug
gle.
Germany has the advantage of ;
single leadership and united pur
pose. The allies are in disorder, ant
Great Britain is in pitiful condi
tion.
The war situation today is decid
edly in favor of the Germans. The,
were prepared for war at the begin
ming. Their leaders were students o
war, and the people of Germany hav'
believed in war. The world seems t,
be theirs. What will they do with i
when they &c, it seems to be the prob
lem which concerns other nations, thii
nation, ;ncludcd-Des Moines Capital