New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-27
Peace Now Would
BeGermanVictory
-.Only at Oder and
Rhine Will Allies
Win Demands.
I9I6-The Tribune Assn.

man preparation for this war, the marvel
lous fashion in which Germany used her
armies to dispose of the plants Of her
neighbors and her submarines to strike
the British commercial feet. The nations
that are fighting Germany are no longer
doubtful as to their ability to crush her
armies ultimately, but in addition they are
becoming more and more resolved to de-
prive her of the profits that she would de-
rive could she make peace now.
Peace Now Great German Victory.
The thing Americans do not perceive
with sufficient clarity is that peace now
would be great German victory, for rea-
sons which have indicated, and that it is
precisely for these reasons that Germany
is again and again bidding for peace on
the basis of the map of Europe" If, in
addition to escaping invasion and the de-
struction of her industrial plants and any
payment through her shipping for the
losses of the British, Germany could re-
tain her hold upon Constantinople, her
road to Asia Minor, she would have won
the war, even if she acquired not foot
of territory in Belgium, France or even in
Poland.
In due course of time Austria, Bulgaria.
Serbia would pass under complete German
domination, as all three have steadily
tended to pass since the war began. Ru-
mania and Greece would necessarily fol-
low the line they could not avoid. From
Hamburg to Bagdad the German railroad
would run uninterruptedly and German eff
fort would in due course of time reach Suez.
cross into Egypt and even approach India.
And for the development of all these re-
gions, richly mineralized, Germany would
keep her great industrial plant undis-
turbed by war. Her soldiers, like our
own after the Civil War, would move on
outward into this Greater Germany, as
Grants soldiers moved into the Far West
Given the genius for organization which
Germany has already shown, she would in
no distant time be absolutely master alike
of the Continent of Europe and the African
shores of the Mediterranean.
Will Yield Only to Great Defeat.
Now, the progress of the war has nee
essarily revealed the whole German plan.
What millions in France, Russia and Brit
ain now see was unknown to them two
short years ago, or German purposes
seemed too grandiose to challenge sensible
consideration. What seemed then dream
has now become almost solid fact; it
will become permanent fact unless
victory over Germany is achieved which
will destroy the foundations of this Ger
= man scheme. Such a victory is a matter
e of years rather than months. Napoleon
n was able to fight all Europe with no
e stronger allies or weaker enemies than
n Germany has now from 1905 until 1914.
e He did succeed in dividing his foes fire.
5 quently, as Germany has not, but it took
y ten years to get to the end Of the Napo-
leonic dream.
y To suppose that Germany, with so much
of her ambition achieved, will surrender
the vital portions of it until she has met
disasters that compare with Moscow and
Leipsic is preposterous. To suppose that
the Allies, now satisfied that they can de-
-, stroy the German edifice, will stop now on
: terms that will insure the German future
!, is equally absurd. At the Rhine and the
Oder Germany may resign Alsace-Lor-
=, rane, Southern Silesia, perhaps Posen and
=. the Prussias, but she is not likely to re-
~ sign any part of them at the Somme, the
:, Sambre,or the Mouse in the West or along
:, the Niemen, Beresina or Vistula in the
% East.
A Four Year, War.
The Allies have first by fighting to d.
= vest Germany of what she has conquered
a. in this war, particularly Of her conquests
20 from the Danube to the Golden Horn.
# They have then TO rescue Northern France,
y Belgium and Poland. And Germany as
" she retreats will shorten her lines, not
$. impossibly keeping step with her decline
J. of numbers. To suppose that the end the
r Allies mean to attain can be attained this
r year or next seems to me unreasonable.
D, To suppose that, knowing or believing that
70 they can attain it, and perceiving what
IN the cost 70 them will be if they do not at
er tain it, they will stop short of it seems
,h to me equally incredible. And this is why
n share the belief that is held in many
quarters abroad, that the war will con-
We tinue into 1918, that it will be four
e. year war, and that it will end inside Ger
n man frontiers