Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-04-14

VY TASHINGTON, D. c., April 1O.-The countries of
wv Europe at in future years be
populated by a veritable dwarfs if the
war continues much longer according to the specula
tions of scientists. Interest is now turning
largely away from the itself and toward it's ulti
mate effects social and industrial One of the
interesting questions presented is what changes
war VIII cause in the races of Europe and this is of
immediate Importance to the American people, by
immigration shall share whatever heritage the
leaves to the European nations.
Speculation size of Europeans is
based largely the well that the Ma
poleonic reduced the size the French
people This is opinion commonly held France
ITSELF and is adequately established by the records
of the army Napoleon had repeatedly to lower the
standards of height which he had his soldiers
annually offered themselves for compulsory service
shows that during the twentyyear period of the war
the number of those rejected for insufficient size
greatly increased
loss Of size in itself is important pref
" certainly implies loss of other valuable physical
qualities. Thus during the period of the great French
wars the number of conscrpts had to be rejected
because of infirmities increased one-third
Now the scientists who argue that the present war
is to result in physical degenerate European race
point out that the present war is much worse than
preceding 1t is destroying in unpre-
cedented numbers. The total losses of Europe in
killed, wounded and missing been estimated as
high 100000 Furthermore, the number of
who have been taken from battlefelds
Gus wrecks insane is tremendous The maddenins
monotony of trench warfare, the terrific shock of
heavy artillery, the of poison gases,
render the destructive human tissue than
any that waged before
This side of the picture mas been greatly
emphasized in this country while the other has been
almost overlooked. There number of scientists
contend that is beneficial and necessary. One
Of the most convincing of these is DR.. Otto Ammon,
of Jena, who points that conflict between
tions is the most majestic form of the struggle for
existence, and is really working out oe the laws of
natural selection.
The pacificists deny this categorically asserting
that the of natural selection is reversed Thus
in the battle wild animals in wilderness, the
weakest always killed, the strong survive and the
breed is improved. In war, however, the strongest
and fttest the front and be killed
or MANNED while the unfit carefully protected at
home The recruiting office to the weaklng citi
zen, good enough to be soldier go home
and be a father
So those who assert that war injuries the seem
to best of it if the question is viewed from
q biological standpoint The militarfst philosophers
claim proportion destroyed is not really large
enough great effect and that the damage is
in part compensated by increased birth rate after
They cannot however, disprove the terrible loss
of race-strength both by death and injury in war
like the present one.
1bsv assert. however, that the greatest benefits
Of war are spiritual. During the war, they say the
heroism and unselfshness of people are stimulated
Persons who devoted all their lives to gathering
riches often freely give these to the cause The men
of the race learn to face death, the women now
To face sacrifice peace herosm is possible only for
a few-such explorers and adventurers In war;
heroism becomes the common experience of the race
Nations often produce their greatest after wars
The Germans Goethe Schiller and Kant after
the desolating Thirty Years Poland produced
wonderful crop of geniuses while she was being over
run by the armies of Europe and torn to pieces by