South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-31

cial aid given her allies. England $
resources are not confined 20 her
own island. but must be measured
also by the enormous resources Of
her colonies. her huge investments
abroad. and the fact that her inn
mense industries and sea-bcrne com
morce have continued with little in
terruption A nation carrying nearly
one-half the trade OF the world and
controlling such vast resources out
side OF herself is not likely 10 he
seriously crippled by contest with
powers OF much inferior resources.
Great Britain Will probably come out
of the war in better condition than
any OF the belligerents. She viii
probably emerge an empire solidi-
fed. awakened, strengthened and
more powerful than ever. Beyond
question :he war has welded the en-
pire into a unit as nothing else
could Upon Germany. however the
blow is likely 10 fall with much
greater severity. German financial
resources do not compare with the
British. Her foreign commerce,
which ranged second in the world,
viii be very seriously crippled. After
the war grave fiscal problems VIII
require the skill of her best fnan-
ciers If she is 10 escape national
troubles. Germany may also be
threatened with mOmentous social
and political readjutsments, and
should the allies impose heavy bur
dens her recovery may be relatively
slow. Yet il must be remembered
the recuperative powers of Germany
are great. Her people have a Won
derful genius for organization, scien-
tihc thoroughness. hard work and
economy. and may be depended upon
10 strain every nerve for the restOra-
ton Of national prestige. Her terri
tory has not and may not be devas-
tated by war. Her mills and her
railroads are practically intact, and
il is doubtful If the allies, even If
successful. will ever make any per-
ceptible inroads upon German soil.
Germany's resourcefulness will be
put to the greatest test imaginable.
all the more surely because OF the
awful waste Of life and skilled labor,
but there is not the slightest doubt
that she will make marvellous efforts
towards recuperatiOn.
To Recover Rapidly.
France and Italy may also be ex-
pected TO recover more rapidly than
anticipated in the present state OF
public opinion. only a comparatively
small strip of France has been de-
stroyed; a valuable strip, it is true
but the injuries are of sort that
can be quickly repaired, and Il
months of reconstruction in France
will work miracles in the present re-
generative temper of her people
The same VIII be true of Italy. pro-
vided the northern section of that
country is preserved from invasion
Russia has been slightly hurt by
the war. She is too vast and has
too large a population to fel the con-
fiict very seriously. Russia is not a
rich country except in undeveloped
natural resources; but her more
wealthy allies are able 10 give her
abundant financial aid, and after the
war development on an enormous
scale may be expected in Russia, in
which the United States will un-
doubtedly have a share. In all OF
these countries, therefore. we may
safely look for recovery from de-
preston within a reasonable period
after the resumption OF peace, be-
cause these nations possess great
genius. high spirit and vast natural
/ resources which are only awaiting
row de- relOpment. All three of these
countries will be literally born
again. history proving that Great
Britain. Germany and France have
/ quickly recovered from struggles
quite as severe relatively as the
/ present. The same can hardly be
said OF Austria Hungary, the Balkan
states or Turkey. These nations dc
not possess the attributes just re-
| ferred 10, and some of them are de-
Cadent. For them a longer period OF
I exhaustion is probably in store; and
/ their problems. especially those OF
! the Balkans. vii be found far more
] difficult of adjustment than those OF
/ the other great European powers.