The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1915-08-14

French army at the front, this past week,
has said that if the Germans attempt to
smash through the allies lines, either to
the English channel or to Paris, ''the
greatest slaughter ever witnessed by man
will occur.'' That the English and
French have been piling up vast quantities
of ammunition along their fronts during
the past weeks, in anticipation of an at
tack, cannot be doubted.
The big guns Of the German army have
been pounding at the Verdun fortifca-
tions this past week.
The English have regained the trenches
near Ypres, which they lost August 1 be-
fore an attack Of flaming gas
Heavy Fighting in Gallipoli Peninsula
New and greater efforts are being made
by the allies to open the Dardanelles and
relieve Russia. A force of $4,000 fresh
troops has been landed on the Gallipoli
peninsula, and continuous fighting has
been in progress for days.
The Balkan Situation May be Key to
World War
Powerful pressure is being brought to
bear upon the Balkan states to induce
them to enter the war on the side of the
allies. If Bulgaria, Roumania, and Greece
could be persuaded to close in against Tur-
key from the west and north, while the
English and French batter from the south,
it is highly probable that Turkey would be
forced out Of Europe. Such an event
would be of great significance
Bulgarias prime minister, in a frank
statement to Henry Wood, United Press
correspondent, the other day said:
'To the allies we say: Give us back
Serbian Macedonia and we will fight in
the way we can serve you best
Bulgaria is fully prepared and wait
ing to enter the war the moment she re-
ceives absolute guaranty that by so doing
she will attain that for which other ma
tions already engaged are striving -
namely, the realization of her national
ideals
FThe bulk of these aspirations lies in
Serbian Macedonia, which, with its 1,500,-
coo Of Bulgarian people, was pledged and
assigned to us at the close Of the first Bal
kan war 1t is still ours by right and prin-
ciple Of nationality When the triple en-
tente can assure us that this territory will
be returned to Bulgaria and our minor
claims in Grecian Macedonia and else
where realized, the allies will find us ready
to fight with them. But these guarantees
must be real and absolute No more paper
ones can be accepted.
con the part Of the allies we are asked
for the direct participation in the war of
world knows. On the part Of Germany,
Austria, and Turkey we are only asked
for a continuation of our neutrality until
the end of the war.
"Candidly, this latter request we are
loath to grant. We cannot foretell what
the future holds for us. To discount it
entirely and tie our hands by solemn
pledge of continued neutrality would be
impolitic, indeed. We might agree to
remain neutral for shorter period. But
whether we remain neutral or whether we
fight, our end and the motives governing
our decision will remain the same"
The representatives Of England, France,
Russia, and Italy are besieging Serbia to
cede Macedonia to Bulgaria The pressure
Russia can exert is strong; it was for Ser
bia she entered the war. Whether Greece
can be prevailed upon to yield her part of
Macedonia to Bulgaria, is matter of con-
lecture. However, it is highly probable
that if Serbia alone will cede Serbian
Macedonia, Bulgaria will Immediately
launch her armies against Constantinople
Most Colossal Struggle in History of
World
1t is impossible for the finite mind to con-
ceive of the immensity of the conflict now
in progress. The vastness of it all simply
appalls and stupefes. Nothing like it
has ever before been seen in the world s
history. The great Napoleonic wars, in
the number Of men engaged, the length of
the battle lines, and the total number of
killed, wounded, and missing, were in
significant in comparison.
There never before has been a war in
which the engines Of death and destruc-
ton were so effective and powerful, or in