New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-15
The Berlin Conference.

and of the governments OF the AIiied
countries. At that time and under the
immediate direction of General Jotre
there was begun the great work Of coordl-
mating the operations of the armies night
ing the Central Powers. While CUES
tons of economic interest, particularly
after the war, were also discussed, 1t was
the military department Of the Allied con-
ference which was of real interest and OF
immediate practical value. Already we
have seen the results in the several Allied
campaigns.
To-day the representatives of Germany,
Austria Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey
are meeting in Berlin TO discuss similar
problems. We may fairly assume that the
actual work of coordnating operations
will consume little time because there has
been. so far as the Central Powers are
concerned. an absolute coordination dating
from the hour when the German General
Staff was called upon to repair the dam
age that flowed from the collapse of the
Austrian military establishment in the
FIRST campaign in Galicia in 1914. Since
then the headquarters of all the armies
of the Central Powers has been in Berlin
and all the armies of all the Central ma
tons have followed German direction.
The main question that must come be
fore the conference at Berlin is posed by
ehe Developments of the war since June 4,
when Russia began her great drive in
Volhynia and Galicia. The difficulties OF
the Central Powers have been accentuated
since then by the entrance of Rumanla.
As it now stands Germany is holding very
large areas of French, Belgian and Rus
sian territory, but the case that her allies
have to submit to her rests on the fact
that very large areas of their territory are
occupied by the enemy and the very exist
ence of Bulgaria is threatened by the new
situation in the Balkans.
To put the question badly, Austria and
Hungary must now say TO Germany: 1T is
true that you hold much of France and
Belgium, but all of Bukovina, some thou
sands of miles of Galicia, a daily growing
amount Of Pennsylvania are in the hands
Of our enemies. together with the territory
Italy has recently gained along the Adri-
attic" In the same fashion the Turk can
point out that he has lost Erzerum and
Trebizond. most Of Armenia and portion
of Mesopotamia. lie is threatened now
with isolation from the Central Powers if
the Allied operations in the Balkans
succeed.
In sum, the allies Of Germany must now
put TO the German General Staff the blunt
question: "Can you defend our territories
and at the same time hold your long lines
in Russia and in France" If Germany
cannot reply in the affirmative then it IS
clear that the next step must be the short
ening Of German lines TO release the troops
necessary TO free Austro- Hungarian terri
tory, defend Bulgaria and prevent the ulti-
mate invasion of Bulgaria and the incl
dental destruction of the Bulgarian bridge
between Constantinople and Berlin.
The German answer may take form that
many recent incidents suggest. The Ger
mans may persuade their allies that it is
wiser thing, regard being had for the
general situation, to hold Russian, French
and Belgian territories even at the risk of
further losses i'm Austria and Hungary,
but not in Bulgaria, until the end of the
campaign Of 1916. Then Germany can
endeavor to make the territories she holds
the basis for peace negotiation, not Of the
sort that has been made in the past but
real peace negotiation based on the retro
cession Of all occupied lands, the sacrifice
Of colonies and conccivaby the sacrifice of
some territory, Of Metz in the West and
portion Of Galica and Bukovina in the
East.
Such an answer may satisfy Germany's
allies for the moment, but it will satisfy
them only if they are convinced, as the
Germans seem 90 be, that the enemy is
willing 70 make peace on any reasonable"
basis. The fact, Of course, is that France
will not make peace without Alsace-Lor-
rane, Italy will not make peace without
Trieste and the Trcntino, Russia will not
make peace without Galicia, CONSTANT
nople and restored and enlarged Serbia
Rumania has the pledge Of her new allies
that they will not make peace until she
has both Transylvania and Bukovina.
Following the conference at Berlin we
shall see one Of two things: fairly rapid
withdrawal In the West 10 shorter lines,
either at the French frontier, on line
from the Meuse al Mtzieres 20 Antwerp,
covering Brussels, or a complete with
drawal behind the Mouse fra-a Verdun
10 Liege; or we may see only TIM neces-
sary yielding Of minor areas and des-
perate effort on the part Of the Germans
10 hold on until the weather changes, with
the express purpose Of making peace be
fore the spring comes.
II the Germans shorten their lines In
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