The Washington herald., 1917-07-08

Is affecting Spain and Portugal. are
and of the vast economic dislocation
grees throughout the world.
"The new forces, which will act
and react upon the military situation.
must be taken into full account. They
are the necessary products of a war
waged by nations and not by pro-
fessional fighting bodies. and they
constitute a lesson and a warning.
when the German government de-
cided to set Europe in flames in order
to secure the accomplishment of am
bitions long incubated, and to use the
hugo military machine which had been
laboriously built up for the purpose.
the German people had no voice.
and no means of forming a idea where
they were being led. Theirs was an
acquiescence rendered certain by the
teaching carefully instilled into them,
and by the vague belief that victory
was assured, and that German ag-
grandizement. promising increased
material prosperity for all classes.
would necessarily follow. And all the
other belllgerent peoples, caught In
the tolls Of circumstances over which
they had no control. had no power
of arriving at reasoned conclusions.
and were suddenly brought face to
face with irrevocable decisions to be
left to learn by slow degrees what
a war of nations must entail
No Unnnimity mt Conference.
THAT education is now beginning to
bear fruit OF many kinds. The psy-
chology of the people in every coun-
try is asserting itself. and already the
attempt is being made by sections Of
the labor and Socialist bodies to move
In the direction of peace by mutual
agreement behind the backs of their
governments. The movement has its
dangers; but It must be regarded as
natural evolution International So
cialism affected unity before the war,
but, the German comrades proved
faithless, and are now endeavoring to
exploit their betrayed associates.
There can be no unanimity at the
Stockholm conference, and the only
result must be the propagation Of mis-
conceptions.
In Germany, symptoms Of disinte-
grafton are not wanting. and the eco
nomic conditions are growing worse.
Revolution is in the air; but the rul-
ing classes retain the forcible control
to which the people have become ac-
customed. Local disturbances are
ruthlessly put down. and knowledge
of the military position Is carefully
withheld. The German people learn
only what the government chooses to
tell them, and the candid opinion OF
Capt. Persius that the war cannot be
won by submarines was promptly
suppressed.
How far the truth filters into Ger
many we cannot know. Since the dis
astrous failure at Verdun the German
losses have been skilfully misrepre-
sented, and the bulletins from the
western front have latterly been
models of studied mendacity, while
the chancellor refuses to state his
war aims. the pan-German chauvinists
are permitted to disseminate the most
grotesque demands, which may serve
the present purpose Of the govern
ment. but are ill-calculated to further
the cause Of peace.
Limit of Endurance Near.
THE political and economic situa-
ton in Austria-Hungary tends to be-
come grave, and the Limit of endur-
ance is approaching, while the diver
gence Of interests between the central
powers can no longer be disguised.
Austria is in urgent need Of peace, a
federal constitution on liberal lines,
and freedom from German fetters. II
she Is to remain a great power. The
conviction must be gaining ground
that a German triumph would leave
her in the position of a dependent
state. From Russia the Austrians
now have nothing to fear. and IL Ital-
ian demands are moderate, an honor
able arrangement with the allies
should not be impossible.
"Rumors of movements toward a
separate peace come from Turkey
and Bulgaria, but information as to
present conditions In these countries
Is lacking. Widespread distress and
disorganization exist throughout the
Turkish empire. and scarcity prevails
in Constantinople, but the Turkish
people do not count as a political fac
tor. and the corrupt camarilla which
nominally exercises the functions Of
government would find II difficult to
shake of German control.
The Bulgarian peasants must be
utterly weary of war. and the whole
country Is suffering from its effects,
but until the visions of aggrandize-
ment at the expense Of Rumania,
Serbia and Greece, which Germany
has inspired have been dissolved, the
Bulgarian government will not make
any definite approach to the allies.
Artillery Amply Supplied.
Two striking features have marked
the great military efforts of April
and May. 1t has been proved that
the strongest defenses ever con-
structed can be taken with less sac
rifice than was expected, provided
that an overwhelming artillery fire,
aided by a fearless air service, can
be brought to bear. We have now
established, and we can maintain, a
superior artillery amply supplied with
munitions, and the devoted gallantry