New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-04
Has 1t Paid?

Western front. The date Of the first hos
tile act conceded with that on which,
fcrtv-four years earlier. the German inva-
sion Of France had begun, and the memory
OF previous conquest was in every Ger
man mind.
In 1870. four weeks after the invasion
Of France began, the French Empire was
falling at Sedan. Napoleon III was priS-
oner. Bazane's army was locked up IN
Metz and the outcome of the war was de-
cided. In 1914 the Prussian schedule
called for the capture of Paris and the
elimination of France in six weeks. But
in five the Battle of the Marine had opened
and the close Of the sixth week saw the
German armies rolled back, saw France
victorious, her armies intact, her existence
assured.
Now after a year and q half il is nat
ura that the world should take account
Of stock. What have the Germans to show
tor their gigantic gamble? We all know,
thanks TO the German soldiers and his
torians. professors and propagandists
who wrote before the war, what the stakes
we're for which Germany gambled.
World power or downfall this was
Bernhardi's own measure of the posi-
lilties. It was TO gain this world power
that Germany plunged three continents
into strife. How far has she marched IN
eighteen months?
We know with a reasonable degree of
accuracy what the war has cost Germany.
To the Imperial debt there has been
added $4,000. 100000 Not less than l.
OOO. 900 Germans have been killed IN bat
tie or have died of wounds or disease.
More than. 100000 men have been
wounded or captured. Upward of $780,
600 Of the best Of German manhood have
been removed from the roll Of the efficient
either by death or disability. From the
seas the German commercial feet has dis
appeared SO much is written on the
debit side of the account. To this it is
necessary to add the imponderabes which
have resulted from the invasion of Bel
GUM. the atrocities in invaded countries
and the crimes Of which the Lusitania Is
the epitome. For the larger half Of the
civilized world German has become a
term Of reproach and a synonyme of
savage.
To balance this account what is there
10 show? What does Germany now ex-
pect TO realize out Of her tremendous in
vcstment of national lives, fortunes and
honor? Happily there is a good answer
at hand. In The Evening Mail" of last
Wednesday. under Washington date line
and patiently deriving from the single
source in Washington from which authen-
tic German information is had, comes an
interesting forecast Of the present Ger
man terms Of peace.
Here in substance is the statement,
which it would be unfair TO minimize By
so slight an adjective as inspired:
Germany is prepared TO evacuate Bel
GUM, asking neither indemnity nor the
cession of Belgian Congo.
To eyacuate Northern France, asking
neither indemnity nor the cession Of any
French colonies.
TO cede to Great Britain all of her colo
MES. save that she demands one African
colony-either one Of her own held before
the war, or one created out Of other terri
tory Portuguese perhaps.
Germany demands for herself Russian
Courland and the erection of Kingdom
Of Poland. ruled by German prince and
including portion Of Austrian Galicia.
, Germany asks for Austria and Bulgaria
the partition of Serbia and Montenegro
and the division Of Albania between Aus
t-ia and Greece.
Finally, Germany asks for herself the
protcctorate Of the Turkish Empire.
Now. what does this mean? First. that
Germany has abandoned any expectation
Of holding Belgium or Northern France.
She has put aside all dreams Of making her
enemies pay any portion of what the war
has cost her. She has abandoned her fight
for the freedom Of the seas and is pre-
pared TO surrender most of her overseas
empire to Great Britain. who will share
with France in Togoland and Kamerun.
All Germany expects to gain now is the
Russian Courand. with an area of 10000
square miles and population of 100000.
and a protected Poland. buffer state
against Russia. But such state becomes
instantly grave peril, because 100000
German subjects are Poles and the recon
sttution Of free Poland will awaken
their aspirations. aspirations which if ever
realized. would lead TO the dismember-
mcnt of Prussia.
TO give Austria Serbia, Montenegro and
Northern Albania leaving Macedonia Tor
Bulgaria and Southern Albania for Greco ,,
would be barely to recompensc Austria
Tor her Galician cessions. which Will have
10 be augmented by cessioHs to Italy, still
underlined. Il viii. too. add not less than