The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1916-11-10
the PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR.
The general situation all along the
lines is unchanged. Italy reports some
progress, the Roumanians seem to have
checked her invaders except on the
south. There has been some rather
heavy fighting along the Somme in
which the French made few meters
while the English were successful.
Along the Russian border nothing is re.
ported except assaults here and there
with varying successes.
German submarines are more active
and it is in dispute whether they have
not sunk some vessels without proper
warning.
There is considerable peace talk but
most critics think peace is question of
the far future and many think the war
will last two years more.
Personally, we cannot see how the war
can last that long. The drainage Of men
is too great. IT one regins to figure on
the promise that each warning country
will fight to the last man it is easy to ar
rive at long future for peace. But will
that be true? That might be brave,
but it would not be sensible. it would
not be human nature. Long before the
last man the certain end would be
known. After certain time there
would be no possible object in longer
fighting. Sometimes small bodies of
men will fight to the end, but nations
do not. There Is always large body of
non.combatants like women and child.
rem and the old men who are equally
concerned and they will not stand by
and see the last man killed without
protest.
Already that kind of cost is being
reckoned in each of the warning coun-
tries. Already the great laws are in
fuenclng public opinion-and that is
why we are now hearing so much about
a possible peace.
According to writer in one of the
current magazines the official figures
with careful estimates show that during
the two years of war that the entente
allies have lost ten millions, the Teutons
eight millions and the smaller nations
soma five hundred thousand in killed,
wounded and prisoners.
According to the same estimate, this
means that that the entente allies have
lost about one sixth of their fighting
population and that Germany and Aus.
tria have each lost one third of the men
of fighting age.
In this way they figure that Germany
for instance, can keep on fighting for
two more years before she is exhausted.
But this calculation does not take into
consideration that each year increases
the ration of casualties. To take the
German losses as four million, that
means two million year. Numerically
as long as the lines are as long as they
are now are, Germany will lose just as
many this and next year. But in ratio
TO population If Germany has lost one.
third in the last two years she will lose
almost half of what remains in two more
years-or, in the four years she will
have had killed, wounded and prisoners
two out of every three of her fighting
men. 1t Is true that some of these will
be able to return to the ranks, but the
aggregate is enormous in proportion to
population.
If the results of the fighting in these
next two years are like those of the last
two years. there will have been nothing
gained by either side, by which to make
any better terms of peace than could be
right now.
:. Statesmen may plan and prophesy,
and generals may express views of the
future, but the one great certainty of
this war. the one greatest startegist of
this greatest of wars, is Death.
Eighteen and half millions Of men
either killed, wounded prisoners in two
years. Can Europe, will Europe stand
the prospective loss of as many more.
without materially changing strateglcal
conditions along the battle lines? Can
they ignore the tears of the widows and !
mothers and the cries Of the children for |!
two moro years?