Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-07-20


forward under pressure of everts.
until at last the reason came to use
all its manhood and resources, IL
need be. in war for peace.
That the country has arrayed itself
beside the president in the great task
he has set for it is considered beyond
any question of doubt Assurances
that have come to him from every
nook and corner of 1t prove this con-
clusively. He is quite satisfied with
the result and views the future with
composure.
War May End Soon.
During the week now closing the
belief has become widespread among
high officials of the government that
the war is probably to be won sooner
than had been expected. The recov-
cry Of Russia as fighting force is
now believed to be permanent. No
army was ever defeated, It is pointed
out, animated by the spirit which
Kerensky has instilled into the army
of Russia.
With ample supplies of munitions
Of all kinds, with prodigal reserves Of
manhood strength, the enlistments
being offered In larger numbers than
can be used, Russia, it is confidently
predicted by all the experts. is in the
war to stay. This was the first great
shock that Germany experienced this
year.
The second was the preparation Of
the United States to enter the war on
scale much greater than adopted by
any of the other allies. Our plans
already are far greater than those of
England and France combined dur
ing the first two years Of the war.
The third shock to Germany was
the failure, at least 30 far as 1917 il
concerned. of the submarine CAM
paign. Then came the embargo. stin
further reducing Germany's already
scanty food supplies.
The weight Of these unexpected
events has been crushing to the Ger
man spirit, and Is believed to explain
much that is now going on in Berlin
and other German cities.
Kaiser May Ask Peace Soon.
It would not surprise many high
government officials II Germany were
to make genuine peace proposals be-
fore the winter campaign. Falling
to do that, It 10 believed by the men
just referred to, that she will be COM
PEELED to admit defeat by next spring
or early summer. She is about to be
overpowered by force Of numbers.
Take the recent representative coal
shortage in Germany as bearing upon
this thought, and the issue Of coaI
cards to private consumers. This sit
uation is believed here to indicate !
man shortage. as there IL no shortage
Of coal in the ground, for Germany
is one Of the richest coal countries in
the world. and an abundance Of cheap
fuel has been the foundation OF her
Industrial success. But she no
longer has men to mine her coat
transport 1t and deliver It to the con-
sumers. Railway equipment runs
down and becomes ineficient for the
same reason.
In other words Germany has
passed her maximum strength and
begun to decline. The movement
promises to become rapid q weeks
and months pass by, and II there p
not peace at least BY next spring or
early summer. It Is believed that the
country may break down under the
weight It is carrying. The homo sit
uation has been intensified by what
Russia IL already doing, by what the
United States is preparing to do. ana
by the failure of the U-boats TO bring
England to her knees by July.
The new national army now being
reised in this country. 1t is believed
therefore. may after all have =
smaller part to play In actual war
than most of US had supposed Z
month or two ago. The raising or
that army and the placing Of It ON
the battle fronts may. taken in con-
nection with what Russia is to con-
tinue doing-decide the issue and
bring peace.
Believe Germany VIII Stop.
Germany will not continue the
struggle after she is outnumbered
three or four to one in man strength
and In munitions. To do so would
be national suicide. This may be
dream, but 1t is being visuRlized to
an increasing number of public men
at the national capital. most Of whom
now believe that there is probably
better than an even chance that It
will come true. Germany, it Is be-
lieved. cannot win the war, and her
power of resistance is to be mate
rally curtailed by Russia and the
United States.