The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-01
(Henry Clews)

changed xhe war still oNerruling all other considerations. That the struggle is drawing to its close every one be- lieves, but the date and the terms Of peace are as much matter of guess work as ever The war might end much earlier than anticipated, pro- vided some great event occurred tend- ing in that direction. It Is to be hoped that prognostications that the end will come with the New Year will prove correct; but such anticipations are al- most too good to be true, and the struggle is quite likely to be carried into the coming year. Judging by pres ent resisting power of the Germans. The latter will in some respects grow in strength as their forces contract and fall back upon undevastated country, supplied with good railroad service and nearer the source of supplies. On the other hand. as the Allies press for ward they leave behind them nothing but chaos, their supplies become more and more distant, and traffic routes will be Y temporarily demorailzed. Hence should the Allies continue their 4 present rate of success, real progress for them will become more and more difficult as the armies move forward. This week marks the second ann1ver- sary of the war. Conditions have vast {, ly changed during the interval. At I the beginning the Germans were over whelmingly on the aggressive. Now the Central Powers are on the defen- Isive and driven back in every direction. 4 while Allied preparedness is becom- ing equally overwhelming on every side. Thus far the cost of the war to ' <1o he'll fc hoc Al l billion dollars. and about $1,300,000,- 900 of this.amount was raised by loans in the United States. Should the struggle last another year, as expected by Kitchener, the outlay will run up Ito between 60 and 70 billions; sum 1utterly beyond ordinary comprehen- l sion Peace,sti11 seems long way off, ,, and when hostilities cease months must elapsesbefore any treaty of peace will be actually signed.
 After the war what? This question is beginning to occupy public atten- !, ton quite as much as the war itself. lNo mind is far-sighted enough to pre- fdict the outcome with any certainty. .rfor in Such stupendous upheavals it Is the unexpected wich usually hap ,pens. That great social and political changes are impending in Europe mo- body doubts, probably in the direction s of lessening class differences and placing the control of political power
 and wealth more and more in the hands of the great middle classes. The whole trend of the world over is to place more and more power over in- dividuals and industries in hands of the Government; at the same time put ting control of the Government still more. in the hand of the people and less in control of the aristocracy. In brief, democracy will receive a tre- mendous impetus from war; and, while the change, whether it comes rapidly ore slowly, will be disturbing, still to- those who have real faith in the ultimate progress of civilization the outcome will be welcome, in the firm hopel of a new era of peace and social \ advancement.
 A great many careful and experi- N enced observers look for period of excessive prostration among the bel ligerents after the war. That there will be a period of severe economic exhaustion, need not be questioned, but not few of the prophets of dis tress have underestimated the recu- perative powers of the great nations. Great Britain. for instance, is under : going a terrific strain in financing not only her own huge navy and army but also in the financial aid of her allies. England's resources are not confined to her own island, but must be mea- sured also by the enormous resources of her colonies, her huge investments abroad, and the fact that her immense industries and sea-borne commerce have continued with little Interruption A nation carrying nearly one-half the trade of the world and controlling such vast resources outside of herself is not likely to be seriously crippled by conest with powers of much in- ferior resources. Great Britain will probably come out of the war in better condition than any of the belligerents. She will probably emerge an Empire solidified, awakened, strengthened and more powerful than ever. Be- yond question the war has welded the Empire into a unit as nothing else could. Upon Germany, however, the blow is likely to fall with much great CT severity. German financial resour- ces do not compare with the British. Her foreign commerce which ranked second in the world will be very seri- ously crippled. After the war grave fiscal problems will require the skill of her best financiers if she is to es- f cape national troubles. Germany may also be threatened with momentous social and political readjustments, and should the Allies impose heavy bur- dens her recovery may be realtiveIy slow. Yet it must be remembered the recuperative powers of Germany are great. Her people have a wonderful genius for organization, scientific thoFoughness, hard work and econ: ony, and may be depended upon to strain every nerve for the restoration of national prestige. Her territory has not and may not be devastated by war. Her mills and her railroads are practically intact, and it is doubt full if the Allies even if successful, will
 ever make any perceptible inroads up- on German soil. Germany's resource fitness will be put to the greatest test imaginable, all the more surely be- cause of the awful waste of life ana skilled labors but there is not the slightest doubt that. she will make marvellous efforts towards recupera- ton. France and Italy may also be expected to recover more rapidly than anticipated in the present stage o1 public opinion. Only comparatively