Evening journal., 1916-05-23

The single fact in the world situa-
tion of today is that Germany is cry
ing for peace. For the first time the
subterfuge of using neutral or appar-
emily neutral organs and citizens to
express German desires for peace has
been laid aside. II is from Berlin that
the cry for an end OF fighting comes
most insistently and persistently, and
this appeal finds no echo in the press
or among the public men Of the ma
tions that are fighting Germany.
II is worth remembering, too, that
the terms that Germany now suggests
are incommensurate with her actual
military posture at the present hour
so far as this is disclosed by the map
and, what is most vital. amount to a
Pronunciation of the precise pur-
poses that were in the German mind
when the war began.
In sum, after two years Of war
Germany. by her peace proposals
seems to lay aside the hope of break
ing that iron ring which her enemies
to use the German view. had drawn
about her before the war. The ring is
by the terrible struggle, and what was
a loose entente is now a close alliance
The political situation remains as il
was in 1914. but the military situa-
tion has wOrsened immeasurably. be-
cause a Europe approximately as well
armed as Germany. possessing abso-
lutte control of the sea. now main
tains more men on the firing line thar
Germany has, or ever can hope tC
have, even with the aid OF her allies.
Now. at the bottom OF this whole
great war. so far as the Germans are
concerned, there has lain the convic'
tion that a strong. brave. efficient Ger
many was, by reason OF ancient agree
ments and outwOrn parchments OF in.
ternational law. excluded from fail
share in the territories and prosperity
of the world. and that those nations
who enjoyed the German rights wer,
no longer strong enough TO maintain
them. The Germans saw a decaden
France. a slothful. lazy. doomed Brit
ain and a Russian potentially a giant
but not yet come TO the full power o.
its manhood.
Accordingly the whole tribe Of Ger
man professors. publicists, militar!
leaders. who have flourished since
Bismarck went into retirement. havi
preached that the present belonged L
Germany and that her strength ant
her efficiency entitled her morally ant
would permit her physically to taxi
her rightful position in the world, nov
filled by interiors They have also in
sisted that if the present opportunlt.
we're permitted to pass. the future
would see the balance turned agains
her fatally and permanently. Thu
numbers Of the Slavs. the ambitions O
the Italians. the growth Of Britisl
overseas dOminions. the organization
OF French Colonies. all would combin
to create forces that Germany coult
not overcome and would leave tn
German race hemmed in between enc
mics in a narrow European domaii
and commercially limited by the TART
frontiers of other great colonial EN-
pires.
In the years before the war Ger
many saw France take Tunis. MAZDA
gascar. expand her West African col
onies into great empire. round it on
with Morocco. consolidate in lndO
China a colony larger than German,
She saw Great Britain take the Sout
African republics. fortify her positiO
In Egypt, develop her South Africa
territory: she saw the British domain
in Australia and in America GROWN
apace in wealth and population. Sh
beheld Russia expanding in Asia an
transforming the wastes of Siberi
into a second American Far West Sh
witnessed Japan more and more open
ly assuming the supremacy in the Fa
East. She saw Italy take Tripoli sea
herself on both sides OF the Mediter
ranean and in the Greek Isles seize.
post at the gate of Smyrna to await
splendid reversion Of Turkish estatei
Even the United States. growing wit
the years, was becoming too pOwerft
TO be challenged over the Monroe Doc
trine. and South America was close
TO p German future.
To balance all this mighty eXpaT
sion Germany could point only 10
few pieces Of African soil. widely ser
arated, walled in by British an
French colonies and utterly at m
mercy OF tue bIlllSu lltel, as lAt Nd
was to prove absolutely. This was tn
harvest OF the present. this was IN
prospect for the future. OF a nation {
70,000,00O Of people, with an indus
trial organization which surpassed any
thing the world had ever seen, nj
merely in actual efficiency. but in m
intelligence with which IL cared fC
the workers. A nation bursting int
new life. new progress Industrial,
new triumphs commercially, locke
out upon a future restrained beyon
any measure that the German min
could endure.
Take. now, the peace terms Ge
many offers! II will he seen at ono
that they will not bring about sitl
tion greatly improving German pro-
poets before the war. France. Grei