The Washington times., 1915-04-09
THE INCREASING HORRORS

The world has not yet become be-
numbed with contemplation of the
horrors of the European slaughter.
Rather, there is testimony from vari-
Gus directions that it is thinking
more. than ever before about the
bootlessness Of the frightful sacri-
fees that are being made along the
fighting lines. From England come
persistent stories that the plain peo-
pie are getting restive, while a prom
inent German newspaper has recent
ly published an article on the mill
tary position that would not have
been passed by the censor three
months ago. The editor who got it
into an edition would have been
locked up for it. Today, this writer
is permitted to tell the German peo-
pie that they must take clearer
and saner view Of conditions, and
realize that the overwhelming vic
tory they were originally certain of
winning may not be theirs.
That the war will lead to some
form of stalemate before many
more months is unquestionably COM
ing to be a more and more widely
accepted view. The British drive
against Neuve Chapelle, won by dint
of perfectly wonderful artillery as
sault, cost tremendous losses to the
Germans. But it must also have
been won at frightful expense to
the British, for since that spectacu-
lar advance they have not informed
the world of any further movements
on their part, and apparently they
are waiting for the chance to move
their guns to where they will be
available for another similarly un-
expected drive. The French attacks
on the two sides of the V-shaped
line which has its point on st. Mihiel,
have cost them very heavily, though
they seem to have won considerable
ground.
But the costs are so tremendous
in proportion to the gains made. No
matter which side gains the advant-
age in the particular movement, both
lose in everything save the pitiful
little strip of trench-furrowed land
Guns, ammunition, material, precious
human lives are thrown in with al
recklessness. 1t cannot go on al.
ways. Yet the progress that has
!. been made from the battle of the
Marne to this day, if weighed uE
against the cost in life and wealth
has been so little that it needs only
, the toughest computation to show
that at such a rate of pay there i:
, not enough life and property il
| Europe to carry such operations t.
decisive conclusion.
Perhaps one side will COLLAPSE
sooner than the other. and make ;
decisive action somewhere possible
E It would seem now as if it is ques
2 ton, not of winning in the tight
Y drawn operations, but if whether on
: side will fall victim to depression an
s the haunting horror of it all. Whic
t side may be expected to show tn
n better nerve when it comes to tina
last test?
: Realization is coming to all tn
warning peoples, of the fact that re
: sources are nowhere sufficient to sus
t tain such contest for long. Their
l. must and will be the most prodigs
n waste to the very end; but, als'
l. there must come a collapse froi
s. sheer incapacity to sustain the thin
y endlessly. The feeling that the wa
r will end the coming autumn is gain
e ing ground all over Europe. Italy
It hoping again to be able to keep ou
r The Balkans are holding back. TT
,r frenzy is cooling; consideration {
to the awfulness of the sacrifice
1t making neutrals prize their neutra
le ity, and belligerents consider ser
S. ously the means to ending it.