The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-28
Teutonic People
Will Not Be Able
to Withstand
Strain
THAT APPARENT NOW
American Expert Talks of
Lessons of War to
Date.
BY j. W. T. MASON
Noted American Expert on European

Noted American Expert on European
July 2s, 1914. two years ago to a
day Austria declared war upon Serb
Militarism is in its death throes
as the second year of the war closes.
It Is fighting on the defensive, and is
approaching inevitable surrender.
The allies have demonstrated that
they MUST continue the conflict in.
definitely to defeat the militarists OF
Germany. There are signs that the
German people are realizing this fact,
and, to save their empire, eventually
will refuse to accept the policies OF
professional soldiers.
This Is the main result Of Europe's
two years OF warfare: GERMANY
WILL SURVIVE THE WAR; BUT
PRTSSIAN MIL1TARISM WILL NOT.
The second year OF the. conflict has
given the central empires a stronger
Territorial hold on Russia, and has
seen; the complete conquest OF Serb
Ia. 1T has witnessed large victory
infAsia Minor by Russia. aud the loss
to Germany OF almost all that remain
ed OF her colonial empire.
But the study of military maps has
no longer the Importance 1t had earl
fer In the war. :,
The Russians may gain Galacia and
may enter northern and eastern Hun
gary; the British and French may
compel a large retirement of the Ger.
mans In the west; nevertheless, 1t Is
not Essential that these victories be
won in order to defeat Germany.
Prussian militarism cannot survive
sending men after men to be EXTERN
mated while the German population
at home Is compelled to live on ever
shortening rations.
The vital fact Of the second year
oftthe war has been the failure of the
central powers to devise a way to
break through the British blockade
and provide adequate food supplies
forSthe German people.
Prussian militarism foresaw an as.
tonishingly large number of things
that would happen in world war;
but IitShas shown during the past year
that did not foresee the necessity for
providing for the wants OF the German
civilian population during q protracted
struggle.
As the conflict enters upon It's third
year, the German civilians are assum-
ing greater and greater Importance
in the German empire. When their
influence becomes sufficiently domin-
kant to overbear the militarists, the
war will end.
Thus, the war In its third year will
toIra ~ n >, aotiroI,, ,o.t,
Victories. In the old sense. are no
longer necessary to success.
At the pease conference, the con.
trolling influence will rest with that
side which can kill in larger numbers.
This control, OF course, must be er-
ercised within limits, but 1t will make
the actual areas OF conquered terri.
tory held by either side Of secondary
Importance.
Three great nations are now at work
killing Germans. The Germans are
slaughtering in return, but the losses
Of the allies are divided among tho
British, French and Russians.
The losses inflicted by the three
allies fall upon the Germans exclu.
styely, except along a small part OF
the eastern front, where the Austro.
Hungarians are making stand.
It would take a long time to kill
offienough Germans to compel the Teu.
tons to retreat to their frontiers on
all Sides. This is not to be looked
for. It is the killing that counts, while
ever more and more food tickets are
being issued at home.
No country on short rations can con.
nnue to strain indefinitely sending
It's men against the machine guns
ofSthree enemies at once In a pcrma.
nently defensive campaign.
For "a long time. Germany's heavy
casualties were borne with fortified
and IN fact, with pride, because her
armies were winning successes in east
and west. Now, however, the possi.
bilitySof gaining further field success.
es which can have any serious mean.
ing for Germany has vanished.
Hereafter, certainly two and posi-.
bly, three Germans are destined to fall
(Continued on maze ~