Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-16

ish, reinforced by the Russians, may launch gi-
gantic offensive before the summer wanes and
crush the German lines. Still another possibility
which may hasten the day of peace is that of social
unrest or political dissenson within Germany. But
waving the things that may be and considering
only the clearer probabilities, can reasonably
suppose that wars third autumn will find the pei
ligerents locked in desperate grip, each awaiting
the ebb of the others endurance.
How long that final test will last depends main
ly on the supply of mum liens and men. Economic
and financial exhaustion will play an important part,
as will also the moral temper of the peoples con-
cerned The British blockade is telling severely on,
Germany's fortunes. 1t is a mighty weapon in the
hands of the Allies But If Germany is determined
upon resistance at any sacrifice, she cannot be
starved into surrender unless the drags on in
definitely. IL her resolution stands mistaken, she
will surrender at stage short of the utter hope
lessness of her armies. She may be hemmed within
her own frontiers. but she keep up the fight if
she has men and munitions enough.
1t is on this basis that struggle of endurance
will be decided. And it is on this basis that the
defeat of the Central Empires seems predestined
In the first half of the war, the Allies were
under a heavy disadvantage from shortage of muni-
tions and a general lack of preparedness. Evil
IDENTIFY however, that handicap has been overcome
even in Russia whose cause at one time seemed al
most lost for lack of guns and shells.
As regards human resources the other deter
mining factor in the test of staying power the SUI
periority of the Allies, is unquestioned. Author
tiles calculate that in August, 1916, the Entente
group will have some thirteen Million one hundred
and fifty thousand fighting available, while
the Central Empires will have about five million
two hundred thousand. There is pretense to
exactness in these figures. but they fair to
one side as to the other. They rest the assump-
ton of military that in compelling circum-
stances country can utilize for fighting purposes
has the necessary equipment and supplies In the
estimate given the losses of each side for the first
two years were computed far as possible from,
the reports of the Allied and the German Govern
ments. .t.
If these figures are even roughly reliable or
proportionately true the Central Empires at the
beginning of the third year of the war will face
odds of nearly three to That circumstance
alone, regardless of food supplies or financial con-
ditions would be a mighty factor in determining
the result of an endurance contest. However bril-
liant the generalship of the Teutons might be- it
could not make five million men the equivalent of
thirteen million in struggle of that character.
If, then, Germany's present state of mind which
though DESTROYS of peace is not reconciled to need
full concessions, continues and If the present dead
lock in the West is not broken by overwhelming
ably will enter upon its third year with prospect
of eventual if not early defeat for the Teutons by
the enemy's superior numbers