The daily Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1916-1917, 1916-08-14
THE WORLD WAR

lust ended in Europe. The cost oi
this wholesale display of patriotism
to date is $55,OOO,OO goo. The pro-
phets that spoke when the war broke
out doubted if the war would last
longer than six months, for they ar
gued. that the warning countries could
not afford the cost, and that the peo-
pie of the belligerents would demand
an early peace since so many men
were being killed off each day.
But the war goes on a larger scale
than was ever cOmprehended and will
continue to set precedents until peace.
Germany surprised the world by her
preparedness on land and sea, and the
ability she displayed in bolstering up
her allies with military geniuses and
munition supplies. On the other
hand. Great Britain was prepared on
sea only, while France, Russia and
Belgium prepared on land could not
stand the onrush of the overprepared
Teutons. Kitchener calmly stated
that this would be three years war,
because the Allies were just getting
ready. They did; it took two long
years.
The Teutons thought they could win
this war by striking first and hard.
They depended upon strategy versus
diplomacy: they believed Kaiser Will
helms military genius would win
despite Bismarck's warning for tact
The TeutonS struck hard with their
steamroller, crushing the opposition,
but only temporarily.
The beginning of the third year Of
the war has seen a change in the in
itiative of fighting. The Allies work
ing together like a clock are pound
ing away at the TeutOnic fronts day
and night with the expectation of
slowly forcing through the German
lines. The conflict is raging fercely
against the stubborn defense of the
Central Powers. who are showing
wear and tear, after eXerting all the
strength in a two years fierce COM
bat. The Allies are prepared to the
hilt and for the first time are meet
ing the opposition on equally pre-
pared grounds. Plenty of ammuni-
ton and supplies are being made
daily for the Allied men and there is
no indication that the supply will
run short, even if the Allied guns
have to pound away Indefinitely to
win their detectives.
The possibility of Germany raising
the blockade with the giant subma-
rines is not very promising The
Deutschland came into port and the
Bremen might get in. but the chances
for dashing back to the Fatherland
seem slight and dangerous. Great
Britain is in control of the seas and
as soon as Germany finds some scheme
Of evading the blockade, the English
will curb her Germany cannot de-
pend upon supplies from other coun-
tries to win the war.
AS we have seen, the Teutons have
wasted their best energy fighting the
enemy during the past two years.
They tried to get a decision by dis
posing of the different countries
separately, Dut tnlS lalled. Inc Cen
trail Powers must now defend them
selves against the determined Allies. |
who are just beginning the Great |
War II seems impossible that the |
Teutons can withstand the pressure |
The German people will soon demand |
peace when the enemy will approach |
the German borders. But the Ger
man military leaders led by the Kai-
ser will not submit to humiliating |
peace until his forces will be decis-
lively defeated, and the Allied forces |
will fight on German soil.