The Republican journal., 1916-12-14
WHAT OF THE WAR?

first with the allies in their fight agains
German miIit arism-a menace to tn
whole civilized world. If successful ii
the Old World it was felt that Germany
would cross the Atlantic for further
eonuuests, and that the armies of Grea,
Britain, France and Russia in resisting
the aggressions of Germany were fight
ing our battles as we'll as their own. NJ
apprehensions were felt as to the out
come of the struggle. Indeed, when wal
was declared and Great Britain came to
the aid of Belgium and France it was
felt that she alone, with her powerful
navy. would be decisive factor, and hel
action certainly created CONSERVATION ir
Germany, which had not counted on her
drive on Paris. due to the gallant resist
ance of little Belgium and the partial
preparedness of France, was encourap-
ing to the Allies and their sympathizers.
1t was understood at that time that Ger
many had expected to overrun France,
take possession of her seaports, then
move against Russia, who was wholly
unpre pared for effective resistance, and
when that county was conquered or
made powerless Great Britain was to be
attacked by Sea ard land. But the French
and Belgium troops succeeded in holding
the invaders at hay while Great Britain,
which was unprepared for wsr except as
to her navy was raising and drilling an
army, and Russia, then and later handi-
capped by lack of munitions. was getting
her legions ready for action, These were
the preliminary stages of what has proved
to be the greatest war in the history of
the world-a horrible war, marked by
atrocities unparalleled even in the days
of barbarism.
We were led to believe that the fight
ing in France was steadily reducing the
numbers and efficiency of the German
armies, and that financial troubles and
the cutting off of her food supplies would
eventually ensure her defeat. 1t is of
course true that attacking forces are the
heaviest losers, and that in her unsuc-
cessful attacks on Verdun Germany's
losses were greater than those of the
Allies. But when the Allies began their
recent offensive the conditions were re-
versed; and what have they gained by an
advance of few miles? Germany still
holds northern France and Belgium, and
a further advance by the Allies can only
be at fearful cost. AS to finances,
Germany has raised her loans at home,
while Great Britain has had to finance
her allies and come herself to this coun
try for financial aid Germany's con-
quests in the Balka ans have augmented
her supply Of food and other essentials,
while the food question is becoming seri-
iOus in Great Britain, and orders have
been issued restricting the number of
courses to be served in hotels end res
taurants, and further order is to be
issued forbldding both in public places
and private houses the consumption on
certain days Of meat, poultry and game
Germany's preparedness was not wholly
military The Independent of Dec. 6,
1915, said: IF it had not been for the
prompt mobilization of such field forces
as the potato and the sugar beet the Ger
mans would hardly have held out until
now, Last summer Q9l4) every patch
of spare land in the country, every va
cant lot in the city, was put into vege-
tables, cared tor by the women, children
and old men, Today England is called
upon to plant potatoes on waste lands for
1917 consumption, and food controller
is to be appointed who will correspond
closely to the German Food Dictator.
1t is difficult to understand the condi-
TORS in the Balkans and the disastrous
attempt to force the passage of the
Dardanelles, where the Allies were de-
feated by the Turks, as they were later
in Serbia by the Bulgarians. 1t would
seem that Italy might have aided in open,
ing the Dardanelles, but she has beer
fighting Austria alone; and Rumanla or
casting her fortunes with the Allies un.
dertook to recover from Austria lands ir
BukoWina and Hungarian land in Trans.
syIvanla, both peopled with Rumanians,
and not only was driven out of this
coveted territory, but in III days from
her entering the war her capital haC
fallen and half of her territory was occu-
pied by the enemy. The editor of LIE.
Matin, Paris, now in this country, is
quoted as saying that the possession OF
Rumania will be source of weakness
to the Germans, as it will necessitate more
trench digging and call for troops to de-
fend it, while the Allies will be able te
turn their attention elsewhere. But thai
view of it will hardly be accepted by
practical people. Possession of the Ru
manian capital ard of the western par
of that country gives Germany contro
of valuable railway connections and the
Danube river. of vast gram fields ano
oil producing territory. of cattle and 9th
er products, now made available fol
feeding Germany's troops in the field anc
her people at home. 1t has its strageri