The Washington herald., 1916-08-01
Two Years of War.

Two years ago today the German Kaiser de-
clared war against Russia and started on his
sensational and lawless raid through the duchy
of Luxemberg into amazed and indignant Bel
gium Since that eventful day, every species of
record known to mankind has been broken Now
we may look back and discover that not one of
the prophesies made so confidently during those
early days of the war has been fulfilled.
We may recall that economists assured US that
war on any extended scale could not last three
months without driving the participating bellig-
erents into bankruptcy. Military experts held
that under modern methods of warfare a ma
uons resources in power would be ex-
hausted in three months. The pachsts were
happy in the belief that with the advance OF
modern civilization and the newer machinery
for the speedy adjustment of international at
fairs a world war a thing Of the past.
Now we see clearly that they were all wrong.
At the close Of two years Of the most barbarous
warfare waged by mankind peace is not
even in sight. Despite the ghastly carnage which
has desolated the European continent and the
drain upon national resources which has been
going uninterruptedy, there is no sign OF
yielding the part Of any of those who have
entered the conflict and no guarantee that those
who have held aloof thus far will restrain them
selves to the end
Certain conclusions, however have been made
clear to us. One of the most important OF these
is the fact that after two years OF trench war
fare neither side has receded from or greatly
modlhed its original contention. The Teutonic
claims and aYowed purposes, inexpcable as
they may seem to us, unchanged. There is
still no wavering in the belief of France and
England that thorough defeat of the common
enemy is the only security for lasting peace
They are still holding steadfasty to their claim
that since they have been obliged to spend the
past two years chiefly in getting ready while
their adversary was splendidly prepared at the
start, they cannot be asked to consider
terms of peace on the basis of what had been
accomplished before they were ready.
1t is perfectly clear, also, that neither Ger
many nor England is going to be wiped out of
existence. In so far as the adversaries may be
fighting to accomplish this end, they are fight
ing for an impossible goal Nor will overwhelm-
ing defeat, however complete it conceivably
might be, serve as deterrent from further war
in future generations 1t is not at all likely that
any selt-respecting nation be made perma-
nently afraid to go to war. The only way to
oolterate the war idea from Teutonic Kultur
would be to exterminate the race.
Few Americans hold precisely the same views
with respect to war that they held two years
ago. This European upheaval has been educa-
tive to the American people. We have learned.
TOR one thing, that the possibility of war on a
horrible scale must be reckoned with by every
nation, no matter how peacefully disposed it may
be- Without in any way becoming mtarists,
we have accepted preparedness as a necessary
evil. We have seen what British unpreparedness
has cost and we are not willing to pay the price.