South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-31
AF TER WAR WHAT?
IS BIC QUEST ION
ReadiuStment of BeIIigerents
Financially and Socially
10 Be Problem.
BY Henry CIews.
Nevs-1'imes Special Service:

NeNH- tlmfo special Service.
HEW YORK. July 81. - Funda-
mental conditions are little changed.
the war still overruling all other CON
siderauons- That the struggle is
drawing 10 its close every one be
lieves. but the date and the terms Of
peace are as much a matter Of guess
work as ever. The war might end
much earlier than anticipated. pro-
Nided some great event occurred
tending in that direction. IL is TO
be hoped that prognostications that
the end will come with the new year
will prove correct: but such antici-
pations are almost too good 70 be
true, and the struggle is quite likely
TO be carried into the coming year,
judging by present 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 near
er the source Of supplies. on the
other hand, as the allies press for
ward they leave behind them moth
ing but chaos, their supplies become
more and more distant. and traffic
routes Will be temporarily democrat
lied Hence should the allies con-
tinue their present rate OF success
real progress for them VIII become
more and more difficult as the
armies move forward. This week
marks the second anniversary Of the
war Conditions have vastly changed
int
ming the Germans were overwhelm-
ingly on the aggressive. Now the
central powers are on the defensive
and driven back in every direction
while allied preparedness is becOm-
ing equally overwhelming on every
side. Thus far the cost OF the wal
10 all the belligerents has been over
40 billion dollars, and about $500
900, 900 Of this amount was raised by
loans in the United States. Should
the struggle last another year, as ex-
pected by Kitchener. the outlay will
run up 10 between 60 and 20 bill
lions; a sum utterly beyond ordinary
comprehension. Peace still seems q
long way off, and when hostilities
cease months must elapse before any
treaty of peace will be actually
signed.
After War What?
After the war what? This ques-
ton is beginning to occupy public
attention quite as much as the wal
itself. No mind is farsighted enough
TO predict the outcome with any GER
tainty. for in such stupendous up
heavals il is the unexpected which
usually happens. That great social
and political changes are impending
in Europe nobody doubts. probably
in the direction 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 the
world over is to place more anC
more power over individuals and
industries in hInds of the govern
ment; at the same time putting con
troll Of the government still more in
the hands of the people and less il
control of the aristOcracy. In brief
democracy will receive a tremen-
dous impetus from war; and. while
the change. whether IL comes rapidly
VI NAONAg III NC ulSAul blilSs SUN lt
those who have real faith in the ulti.
mate progress OF civilization the out
come will be welcome, in the firm
hope OF a new era Of peace and So
cial advancement.
Economic Exhaustion.
A great many careful and expert
enced observers look for a period oil
excessive prOstratiOn among the
betlligerents after the war. Tha
there will be a period Of severe eco,
nomic exhaustion. need not be ques
toned, but not a few Of the prophet.
OF distress have underetstimated tn,
recuperative powers Of the great ma,
tons. Great Britain. for instance
is undergoing a terrific strain il
financing not only her own huge
navy and army but also in the fnan.