The Washington herald., 1915-10-17
In the Balkans.

cies talk of the $4,000 Germans and Aus
trians that invading Serbia. The figure is
coming down by degrees but is still about 100000
in excess of the actual fact. The central empires
are beginning to feel the need of men. Lack Of
reserves is losing them valuable positions in
France. 1t has called halt to their offensive in
Russia and is hampering their defensive
movements some parts of the eastern front.
They short of ammunition in places
though this is doubt local condition only.
To send many men into Serbia under these cir
cumstanccs would be the height of folly. For
what has Germany to gain if assume that
she can establish connections with Bulgaria and
Turkey? She cannot get the Bulgarians and
Turks to fight upon her western and eastern
fronts. She perhaps compel the British to
withdraw from the Gallipol Peninsula. That
would help Turkey, but it would not help Ger
many much.
German newspapers talk glibly about attacking
Egypt or India, but that is nonsense. Turkey
would be enabled Ito make a more determined
campaign in the Caucasus and might compel the
Russians to divert some troops to that front. But
winter campaigning in the Caucasus is difficult
business and large number OF troops would still
have to be maintained in European Turkey to-
meet further invasion. 1t is true that the allies
would suffer loss of prestige, but they must be
getting used to that And Germany has lost
little. too, in the last month or so. Her blow in
the Fast landed, like her original blow in the
West on plain air. That fact she cannot conceal
And it is not bit likely that a withdrawal OF the
DardaDeles expedition would so njure the allies
cause as to encourage any other belligcrcnts into
the German camp.
Why then, it may be asked. do Germany and
Austria dare to send any armies at all into Serbia
answer to that is that it has always been neccs-
sary to keep considerable army the Serbian
front to prevent offensive action by the reconsti-
tutcd Serbian forces. Only few more brigades
added to these would be necessary to allow an
offensive expedition being undertaken for brief
period That offensive expedition has been made
a sine qua non by Bulgaria before she would take
The field. And she determined that the Austro-
German expedition should be made in substantial
iorcc. We may be sure that it has been made in
just much force would satisfy Bulgaria and
no more. 1t is safe prophecy that If the Bull
garians weaken held within ,heinown bor
ders by Serbia and her allies the Austro>t1erman |
expedition will melt away. That is the real secret
OF Greece's pretended neutrality and Roumania's |
diifidencc They think that Serbia with the as
sistancc that the allies give her and with the
assistance short OF belgerencv that they can
give her can cope with the situation. Why then !
should they fight?
1t is suggested that the Dardanelles' expe-
forces may be withdrawn. 1t is GUS
tomarv talk OF this enterprise huge hunder.
In a way it was. If it had been undertaken earlier
in the day the allies would be in Constantinople !
by now But to pretend that the lives lost have
been thrown away is ridiculous. As as
Turkey got into the it became evident that
H. 11oI
and that it would take certain number of British
and French lives to produce that result 1t has
not mattcred very much whether they were killed
Canal or in Mesopotamia. Withdrawing the
armies from Gallipo does not mean the abandon
ncnt of the attempt to get to Constantinoplc. An
,asier way may be found through Bulgaria. True,
Bulgaria must then be dealt with well Tur
Key Is not that true now, under any circum-
stances:
The fact is that the entrance of Bulgaria into
he fray be made the turning point of victory
or the allies if they act promptly and boldly Ex-
oerts have been saying for long time that the
inal battles of this war may be fought on the
ylans of Hungary. Bulgaria by her action has
landed the allies perfectly good railway from
he Mediterranean over which to send troops to
he Hungarian frontier 1t is true that she has at
he same time made Germany a present OF the
cooperation Of two three hundred thousand
raincd troops. But that cooperation is likely to
,e withdrawn at any time nullihed by the ac-
ion Of Greece or Roumania Moreover this war
5 not being fought with hundreds of thousands of
ncn but with millions. Britain could throw
million men into Serbia in the of a few
weeks if it vitality necessary to do 1t is
10 wild supposition that before the New Year
lawns many allied troops will be knocking at the
.atcs Of Austria Hungary not 10 be denied