The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-07
PUBlICIST PREDICTS
PASSING OF GERMANY
Tcutons Cannot withdraw From
Their Present Lanes, Asserts
kipling.
QUESTION OF INDEMNITY
HAS NOW DISAPPEARED
Famous Author and Poet Says Kai-
scr's Subjects Have Learned This
Is Not War Of Victories, But One
OF FxtsFmination,
nv RI-DyARD KTPLING.

Paris. Feb. Eve are passing
through dark, damp days which are
not good for the soul.
have known SOME black moments
and doubtless shall know worce. The
German Is exploiting all the psyche
logical factors he is capable Of I'M
Outstanding and his press Just now
ls engaged In confirming the world
in the idea Of motionless and I'M
beatahle Michael straddled across
Europe, and disdainful OF his enc
mics
Rut the idea Is beginning to pene-
trate the Teutons' head that this is
not a war of victories. but n war Of
determination for his species We in
England are better informed on this
point than We were Il year ago.
" hefs nation goes into the
trenches there can he no victories,
but there can only be Killing. and at
least three nations desire Rreedily
that tho Teuton be killed In retail
Stree he cannot be killed In whole
sale.
The German cannot withdraw from
his present lines. He dare not be-
cause he would have to explain that
action 10 his own people He must
use himself up gradually, either by
advancing and winning victories or
by staying where he Is. And when he
is used up there viii no very little
Of the German problem to settle.
That is the end whereto the destinies
are forcing us despite all the efforts
we have made TO avoid It.
Indemnity Question Disappears.
The question of indemnity to Ger
many has disappeared ny the force
OF facts II she claims one 1t will
be cheaper to continue killing. If
she demands peace without indem-
nifty. returning TO the status quo, what
guarantees will there be that as soon
as civilization Is disarmed she will
not throw herself on US again? The
moral law directing her life Compels
her to do so.
That is Why her ships cannot be
allowed TO 20 TO sea again. She can
not wage any more war than she is
now waglng because she is engaged
on all possible fronts. She can defend
and consolidate her conquests, but
whit good Is consolida ton when sho
perpetually has to throw men into
the fringe OF fire burning all around
her?
Allah has dscrsed that she shall
perish by her own act, from the con-
sequences Of the law that she Processes
and through her own temperament II
tho allies had won fve or six months
ago they would have left Germany
Gtill capable of regaining her lines.
No Germany viii remain. This may
sound extravagant. but all that will re-
main will be a few peoples living on
the eternal defensive In moral. social
and political trenches. Grant that
everything in Germany favors de-
fensive impossible to break: an influx
/ of foodstuffa which cannot he stopped
people Indefinitely enthusiastic for
| war. Even then we must hold on.
/ France, who has paid the flesh of her
| flesh. England, with her half million
losses and about to pay more: Russia
! with her dead impossible TO count.
Universal Raina 40 Follow.
! All the rats are before us In the
Same ditch and IA far as England as
the Empire are concerned, we can put
as many men into the lines in France
! to hold the Teutonio as the French
have
! Regarding the financial sltuat'on II
/ I were younger I would say an i'm
mense wave of prosperity follows
every war, but I leave that this Is to
people twenty years younger and ac-
cept the commoner belief that univer-
sal ruin awaits US, But when the
whole world is materially ruined. each
nation will be as rich as It's neigh
hor. l imagine that in England where
/ small subscribers are not numerous
a certain proportion OF debt will be
/ simply effaced or repudiated for the
very just reason that men rich enough
70 lend big sums to the state are rich
enough TO lose them. 1t is immoral.
but We should only laugh and so would
even the rich men thus forced to lose.
Perhaps they would receive titles of
nobility. compensation that would
r.. nm admirable and practical apotheo-
sig for our national snohbery.
. Anyhow, we shall see funny finances
and the spectacle of central Europe
administered like an estate for the
benefit of France. Russia, England
italy. Serbia, Montenegro. Japan, Aus
tralia, Nav Zealan4. Canada, South
Africa. India and Belgium.
Those who till the soil viii be rich
after the war; those who do not Will
he poor but there viii be no more
Germany.