New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-08
Bucharest-and After

War and dominate Europe died at the
Marine and in the subsidiary operations
which terminated in the repulse of the
German drive for Calais and Boulogne.
Is il too much to say that the Allied ma
tons opportunity 70 defeat Germany and
impose their own terms upon conquered
German empire has ended with the disas-
ter Of Bucharest and the concomitant re-
pulsc and defeat Of the Allied offensive on
the Somme?
At all events, there can be no mistahng
the fact that the events of the past three
months point Enthusiastically toward
drawn battle in Europe and an ultimate
settlement based upon conditions existing
before the war and resulting from the in
ability of either Of the great alliances to
defeat its opponent decisively and impose
terms that would indicate indubitable vic
tory.
A little over two years ago Germany
after forty years of preparation, with the
finest system and the best organized army
that the world has ever known, failed alb
solutely to conquer the French armies,
with their slender British supports. The
supreme effort Of German system and
German High Command, having the ad-
vantage of surprise in the direction of at
tack and Of superiority in the weapons Of
offence, by narrow margin missed de-
stroying the military strength of France
and becoming the arbiter Of the Continent,
as Napoleon was from Austerlitz to Mos
COW. We have had at Verdun, in the
present year, demonstration that what
was Just barely averted in 1914 is not
longer in the smallest degree possible.
But these facts the Germans them
selves have begun to face. We know that
there is no longer any German expectation
Of a successful advance to Paris or an
extension Of the area Of occupied terri
tory in the West. Not a few Germans,
some Of them in commanding positions,
have intimated that Belgium and the occu-
pied districts Of France are no longer 70
be regarded as territories 10 be annexed,
but as territories which will be valuable
as a basis of exchange when the negotia-
tons for peace begin.
On the other hand, must not the Allies
now begin TO reckon with certain other
facts hardly less unmistakable? Two
great opportunities to win the war have
been lost by them. The entrance of Italy
conceded with the terrible Russian disas-
ters Of the summer Of 1916; the entrance
Of Rumania in the present summer has
resulted in the destruction of Rumanian
military power and the conquest of most
Of Rumanis, with the clear probability
that the rest Of the kingdom will fall to
German arms.
No one should exsggerate the results.
They leave Germany In the military sense
weaker than she was before Rumanis en-
tered, with reference to the Great Powers
that are fighting her. She has spent men,
money, munitions in the conquest of a
new foe; in disposing of the new foe she
has not, In the military sense, injured her
larger enemies in the smallest degree
She has still before her In the West the
French armies that defeated her before
Verdun, and the British armies. whose
numbers, equipment, efficiency have in
creased by leaps and bounds in recent
months and are now comparable in all
save the skill Of their commanders with the
German armies.
The defeat Of Rumsnia has not greatly
impaired Russia's strength, because if
Russia has suffered some losses, due TO
her efforts TO support Rumanis, she has
inflicted losses and will receive into her
own ranks the considerable portion of the
Rumanian army which will escape from
the Germans, even if large captures are
presently made. The length of the Rus
sian front has increased, but this is
equally true Of the front Of the Central
Powers.
On the material side much more Is 10 be
said of the consequences Of German sue
cess. Some Of the best wheat fields in the
world have been conquered; the great
Rumanian oil wells are now in German
hands. II may be that no large capture