New-York tribune., 1916-01-31
To the Editor % The Tribune.

!
Sir: It seems that in the many discus
sions in the public forum of the Great War
one important, determining factor has not
been given due consideration, viz, geography
Geography is the only synthetic science
that treats OF nature and man; the others
that treat Of nature and man are analytical.
Consequently, geography is one science that
can give solid base TO the researches IN
question
Prussian militarisrl is adduced as the prin-
cipa! cause of the war. Militarism in itself
is not cause. If We wish 20 find the cause
Of ANYTHING We must endeavor to locate the
remote cause. Great Britain has no mill
tarism because she has not been invaded.
Germany has militarism because, in its
present greatness it is the product of the
war of 1870. Moreover, when she called on
her people in this war there was hardly a
dissenting voice This cannot be called mill
tarism as militarism is commonly intended
Germany's population is about seventy
millions. In ls45 the territory that now con-
..itute; the German Empire held only 34,-
100000 The increase in population has been
rroportionatey the highest in Europe. The
density of population brought misery and
emigration. In time emigration lessened the
misery, ra sed wages, contcmporaneously
rermitsing foreign gold to Aow into the coun-
try. anc determined new commercial cur
rents.
But emigration produced another beneficial
feet the general economic development OF
the country.
Her soil. which was about the poorest in
Europe through liberal use Of phosphate and
otash. etc, now shows a productivcness OF
90 per cent.
Where before she bought machinery from
England, France and others, until hostlities
commenced she inundated European markets
With her products.
This industrial development arrested Ger
many's emigration, and she endeavored to
conserve her forces as the industrial devel-
cpment permitted.
But everything has limit in the confines
CT modern nations. The peopling cannot in
crease indefinitely and industrial develop
mcnt must keep pace with commercial
capacity There is the danger Of overproduc-
tion.
The crisis of overproduction was probably
ct fan off when the Great War commenced
While England progressed 80 per cent in
her commercial movement from 1908 to 1912,
inclusive, Germany progressed 80 per cent.
Before the war Germany was the second
commercial power of the world-after Great
Britain.
But with this important difference: Eng
lands commerce is essentially transoceanic.
colonial commerce; therefore solid and capa-
bic Of unlimited development On the othe;
hand. Germahy's was principally European
that is, commerce with nations all more or
less industrial, and among which there
is the tendency OF self-provision and COM
petition
Hence it follows that, while English com
merce is assured and prosperous, German
commerce is unstable; in confined and
more or less hostile horizon, an ediice
founded on very complicated system of
treaties, tariffs, etc. Germany's geograph-
cal position is unfavorable, between France
and Russia, closed in on the south by the
Alps and on the north by the Baltic, an in
land sea- and by the North Sea, which is
mlitarily British
OF course, she has colonies-the left
cyers of France. England and one or two
others. While Germany's colonies contain a
population Of $4,000 900 (this l. before the
war; OF course. Great Britan's colonies are
three times the size of Europe, with a popu-
lation OF $4,000 900, destined to consume the
industrial products Of the metropolis and to
furnish TO the metropolis agricultural prod
ucts. Not only that. bat Great Britain has