Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1917-08-09
AMERICAS PART IN THE WAR.

dence based upon the submarine and
Russian Revolution; there has been
new hope that Germany might win
the war, after all. But these hopes
have gone glimmering with the re-
turn of the Russians to the attack,
the unsatisfactory harvest of the sub
marine, which discloses the fact that
it cannot win the war this year or
next, at the present rate, and, finally,
the arrival of American troops in
France.
The echo of all this we hear in
the present crisis in Berlin. 1t is no
part of the task of the military re-
viewer to discuss political events.
We have not yet any satisfactory ev-
idence as to the true meaning of the
passing of Bethmann-Hollweg and
the pending changes in the German
Government OF system, but it is
fruit of military disappointments
and are manifestly consequences of
growing recognition in Germany
If the fact that the war cannot be
won and may be lost.
We shall have real measure of
he German spirit when there emerg-
IS from the fog some definite state.
nent of German peace proposals. Un
less these proposals accept unequiv-
)cally the Russian view of no annex
ation and no indemnities, it is safe
20 conclude that they will be thrust
aside by the nations now fighting
Germany. Even if they do make
such proposals, the Allies will in
'allibly demand a German agreement
10 settlement of the Alsace-Lor-
'aine question in favor of France
If the Italian Irredenta in favor OF
italy and the reconstruction of the
Balkans in favor of Serbia, insuring
that state seaboard on the Adriatic
and an increase of Serb lands at the
expense of Austria.
That an evidence on the part of
iermany-and of her Allies, of will
'ingness to open these questions
night lead to an agreement to settle
colonial questions about the green
able and to negotiate on the ques-
ion of German interests in Central
Africa, seems to me quite likely.
But this is mere speculation. Ger
many must first renounce conquest,
second consent to sacrifices; until |
these things happen there can be no
,eace conference this year, or before
a campaign of 1918.
Yet recognizing all this it seems
o me plain that we are entering the
asst year of the war. For my part
am convinced that if the war lasts |
Until the fourth anniversary, we
shall then be within two steps of |
peace and my conviction is that |
>eace will come before that annivers
ary. The temper in Austria, the
;hange wrought in the Near East
~ Russian remuneration of anneXa-
ions in Turkey, the growing clear
less of perception in Germany that
victory is impossible and that dis
aster lies in future prolongation of
The struggle are for me clear indica-
ions that we are on the edge of a
change in the whole situation, a
change which will make military e.
yents from now on of less import
.,nce than political.
In all this it seems to me the Unit
I'd States has very clear mission.
We must first of all continue to
send men and supplies and muni
ions to Europe, because l believe
that the arrival of American troops
in France has already been an un-
nistakably powerful influence in
bringing a change in Germany. The
more troops we send to France the
less chance there will be that we
shall have heavy losses and long cas-
lalty lists. The fact that we mean
to go on will, I believe, be great
force for peace, the first sign that
we were slowing down might act
as did the Russian Revolution to a.
rouse a German hope that the wal
might be won.
A few weeks ago, when Russian
soldiers were quitting the front and
there was still no suggestion of an
American army in France, Germany
believed she could win the war and
adopted a policy of extreme rigor
Her statesmen and publicists pro-
claimed victory in sight and asserted
that this victory would mean the
real world domination of Germany.
But the Russian soldiers returned to
the battle and an American army ar
rived in Europe with results that are
plain. There has been profound
change in German expectation and
this change has shown itself in un-
mistakable ways.