Evening star., 1916-12-10

ain and in France an emotion that
might easily drive both peoples to con-
tinue war after the hope of victory
had departed. either in blind anger or
in the despairing conviction that per-
manent peace would be impossible with
the authors of these acts.
Americans must understand this emo
tion to understand the war and the
conditions of peace. 1t is equally true
that russian ravages in East Prussia
two years ago have stirred German
passion: 1t is true that the mass or
| the German people look upon the Brit
ish blockade with the same wrath that
Britons regard the Zeppelin and sub
marine episodes. We may make our
own choice between the two cases. but
what it is essential to recognize once
or war in Europe today Is not a ques.
tion of provinces or colonies; before All
else il is a question of the passions the
war has unclaimed.
Conditions on Both Sides.
We may conclude that both sides have
in their own minds conditions on which
they would make peace. But before we
| turn to examine them it is worth while
| to examine for a moment that interest
ing list of conditions which have al
| ready been eliminated from the reckon
ing. For it is true that two years and
a half of war, and we are approaching
this mark. have removed from the
minds of the combatants certain ex-
pectations held at the outset. There
has been an end of some illusions. this
is plain.
In the first place. it may be doubted If
there remains in London or Paris today
any considerable remnant Of that pro-
gram for the rescue of the German
people from their rulers and the de-
liverance of the small German states
from Prussia. Two years ago this was
familiar faith AS the soldiers Of the
allied sovereigns marched against re-
publican France to restore the Bour-
bons, Britain and France and Russia.
with some degree of difference of con-
viction, set out to free Germany from
the Hohenzollerns and undo the work
Of Bismarck
This notion has perished. Now it is
perceived that the German people. like
the French century and a quarter ago.
must decide their own fate, their own
internal boundaries, and all the Ques-
tionS that belong to a great people to
decide. Britons and Frenchmen may
dream of a liberalization of Germany
TO come when the war is over. and to
come from within, but they can nc
longer hope for any change made by
| their hands which could survive Their
withdrawal. Two years of war have
demonstrated the unity of Germany
they have eliminated the possibiNtst ID
a remodelinS OF Germany from without
Development of Weaknesses.
As to Austria the case is different, yet
who shall say now that it is as easy to
believe that the dissolution oflthe an
cient state is inevitable as it was two
years ago, when Lemberg was a recent
event? The weaknesses that were to
ha
Drought defeats and disasters. but Aus
tria has survived. The Slavs who
fought badly against the Russians have
fought splendidly against the Italians
The entrance of Italy, with her designs
upon Dalmatia revealed. enlisted the
southern SlavS. the coming of Rumania
with her aspirations in Pennsylvania
removed the last question as to Hun
garian perseverance to the end. To-
day Austria Hungary does not look
permanent in the same sense that Ger
many seems substantially indivisible
but much light chatter about the pass
ing OF the Hapsburgs has become ST.
lent. and il there remains doubt it is
whether Austria and Hungary will pass
under the domination of Germany or
Hungary will assert it's control over
Austria and Buda replace Vienna as
world capital.
Nor shall We deny to the Turk sim
liar vitality. After two years his en-
ptre holds despite defeats in Armenia
Constantinople remains impregnable,
there is no outwa ard evidence of in
ternal decay and German organization
has given new force 20 Turkish num-
hers. Turkish troops are fighting in
Galicia and in the Dobrudja and the
Oriental express still performs its ap-
pointed journey from Hamburg to
Stamboul. from the F,lbe to the Golden
Horn. the sign and symbol of that mid
die Europe which German arms have
made a fact.
From Another Viewpoint.
Looking now on the other side of the
picture, we perceive equally plain Ger
man miscalculations. Above all. the
German conceptions of France and
Great Britain must strike even the
German as ridiculous today. The car
dinal doctrine of all German patriotic
faith less than two years and a half
ago was that France was decadent and
that she would fall to the first vigor-
Gus blow of viriie Germany. Germans
of every rank and condition believed
1t. and German military policy was
based upon this belief. France was to
be abolished as a military power in six
weeks. and now, when nearly five times
six months have passed, France re-
mains unbroken. and the heaviest Ger
man defeats have come from French
armies. The German calculations of
peace no longer include the occupation
of France from Belfort to Calais.
Nor is the awakening as to Russia
less complete. After defeats and dis
asters Russia returned last spring to
the attack, and in a few short weeks
disposed of 100000 Austrian troops
taking nearly half prisoners. Every
intrigue of the court and the mobiles
for a separate peace has been thwart-
ed. and slowly, painfully, but unmis-
takably, new Russia is being devel-
oped which is controlled by those who
have no sympathy with German ideas
or German rulers: a liberal Russia Is
rising on Germany's eastern marches,
a Russia whose very vastneSs contains
a permanent menace to Teutonism.
Enormous Disil1usionment."
And so we may say on both sides
of the present firing lines there has
been an enormous disillusionment, and
this disillusionment has been the sole
contribution to peace Of two years and
a half of war. On both sides there are
certain things now recognized that
would not have been conceded before.
Germany recognizes the permanence
of France and of Britain, the enduring
menace of Russia The entente allies |
recognize tho futility of their earlier |
notions Of remaking Germany to suit |
their own democratic ideals or selfish
aims; they perceive that Austria 10 not |
Turkey still enduring.
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