Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-08-03

forthcoming overthrow Of Prussian
militarism and the establishment OF a
responsible parliamentary government
in Germany.
On the western front. Germany was
compelled partly to shorten her de-
fensive lin s during the third year or
the war, IN order TO economic her
man power. This retirement was not
wholly successful. Scarcely more than
sixty per cent. OF the German line
has been disentangled from It's cost
ly zig gag OF Entertainments 10 the
Strengthened front which retires into
the reserve six thousand soldiers for
every shortened milo Of front en-
trenchments. The German lines from
Arras north ward stu retain their
useless convolutions. The Germans
have feared TO continue the straight
ened process there because Of the
presence OF a great reserve of British
troops who might break through the
German line while the retirement was
in progress and compel a general re-
treat. The costly holding Of excess
mileage therefore still exists for the
Germans in tho west. This means
that many more Germans are being
killed than would otherwise be the
case; and ii Is the constant killing OF
more and more Germans, whether the
western line breaks or not, that is
the main military objective Of the
allies. Eventually, the time must
come when this policy will mean
German equalization through exhaus-
ton OF man power. II the German
government is allowed by the Ger
man people to carry the war so far.
The third year OF the war was half
over when the German militarists de-
cided upon the adoption OF the ruth
less summarizing against all ships al
sea, neutral OF belligerent. This pol
icy was adopted as a final effort by
the militarists to win the war IN
short time. 1t has failed to do SO. II
the Germans could have carried out
their boast OF sinking a million tons
of shipping at the start OF their cam
paign OF ruthlessness, and increasing
this total as new submarines were
constructed, the war might have end
ed for the time being in a. German
victory. But, they have not-met with
fifty per cent. of their anticipated
success The situation has been made
serious for the allies; but the essen
tlal factor for Germany was that the
U-boats should do their work quick
ly. BY forcing the United Smtes into
the war. any long drawn conflict be-
tween submarines and merchant
shipping must result IN success for
the latter, because OF the immense
facilities for constructing merchant
men that America has contributed to
the Allies cause.
The internal situation in Germany
during the third year Of the war has
been developing constantly increasing
difficulties for the militarists The
food problem has become worse, be-
cause OF the curtailment of exports
from contiguous neutral countries;
and in particular, there has been an
intensified suffering among the poor.
The inability OF the German govern
ment to solve the food problem has
been the principal cause of the great
progress democratic ideas have made
In Germany during the past year
The people have begun dimly TO real
lac that the Berlin autocracy is fail
ing in its domestic policies and f.
halted in its military policies. When
this realization becomes thoroughly
understood among the Germans. a
condition will be brought about that
will make the world safe for democ-
racy and so end the war.