The Washington times., 1916-07-11
GERMANY AT LAST ON THE
DEFENSIVE

Mr.. Karl H. Won Wiegand, who has
been In Germany from the beginning
Of the war. and has enjoyed the
special confidence Of the German
authorities, has deserved all the
kindness that has been extended to
him. He has reflected the German
view in all his writings; nobody has
been privileged more nearly to as
sumo . spokesmanship for the politi-
cal or military leaders Of the central
confederation.
Therefore when Mr.. Won Wiegand
writes that the military offensive has
passed from Germany and her allies
70 their enemies, it must be regarded
As significant Of a grim realization
ON Germany's part that the allies
have about done with their muddling.
They are hurting tremendous armies
against Germany and Austria from
every direction; and they are yet
able TO retain a force Of possibly
100000 in the Balkan region, to neu-
tralize the power Of Turkey, and,
doubtless, to be ready to seize Con-
staptinople whenever conditions are
ripe for the big move there.
It has been claimed by the allies
journalistic agencies that Russia
now has $4,000, 900 soldiers under
arms. Not all of them are on the
fighting line yet; millions Of them
are said to be equipped, but held
back for instruction, as reserves for
the great wave of humanity and
metal that is carrying the newest Of
fcnsive right up to the gates Of Hun
gary. There comes, too, the story
that the Brusiloff campaign has
really been directed, in its general
features by the great Joffre.
That is significant in two ways.
Joffre is the great soldier Of the war,
apparently, and the fact that he iSin
supreme control Of operations on
eastern and western fronts alike
shows to what extent the allied coun-
tries have been able to unite their
efforts and energies in the common
cause.
Russia has the unlimited supply Of
men; France, Britain, Japan, and the
United States have brought to bear
a seemingly limitless stream of mu-
nitions. A fund Of common credit
has been created, against which it is
impossible to imagine the Teutonic
powers, cut off from commerce and
even assured communication with
the world, permanently opposing
their limited financial resources
They cannot bear the stress indefi.
nitely, and the point is that Germany
herself is coming to realize this.
An European observer, credited
with intimate knowledge Of doings in
tho allied countries, came to this
country few days ago. He ex.
pressed amazement that, on thii
side, there was still an element OF
people who did not realize that the
central powers were now inevitably
beaten. The result Of the war, he
said, is already being discounted all
over Europe; the outcome is account.
ed as certain as that peace will al
last be made.
The strategists will discuss fol
many years the questionswhether the
Verdun campaign was Germany'l
fatal error. Certain 1t is, now, that
Joffre and the general staff of the
allies were pleased at Germany un.
dertaking that movement. They be.
lieved it was playing into their hand
and now the world knows 1t has done
precisely that. But, after all, the big
mathematics was all against the cen
trail nations. They could not hope tc
win the war, in the big military
sense, If once their enemies should
get time and opportunity to organize
all their numbers, wealth, power
This opportunity they have secured
to themselves, through the two year,
of muddling that marked the perioc
of Germanic initiative. They hav.
found means and leadership with
which to summon the whole materia
world to sustain their immensely su
perior numbere of men.
The time is past when German,
enjoys the privilege Of hurting a great
army clear across the empire, using
it first to deliver a crushing blow
in the west, then to hammer the Rus
SLAMS into an unorganized mob, anc
next to hew a road through Balkans
to Constantinople. So long as that
was possible, Germany was still abb.
to hold the offensive, to deliver tell
ing blows, to keep bar enemies dis
comhted. But today, with awfu
pressure Of superior numbers, sup
plies. equipment, on every front, hel
soldiers must stay at their posts
There Is no time or opportunity X
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