New-York tribune., 1917-12-23

ger compete with the maritime powers,
whose colonial possessions enable them to
do business without the permission or aid
of Germany. II Germany is to 90 back
into business she must once more make
use Of Gibraltar, Alriers, Singapore,
Genoa, Alden, Bombay and Hong Kong.
She must reclaim the British and the
American markets.
German Los,e,
Now, whatever the eventual value Of
her conquests in the Balkans, in Western
Russia and in Asia Minor, they cannot be
of any immediate counterbalancing value
for Germany as compared with her lost
markets and lost sources of raw material.
If Germany we're to make peace on the
basis Of the present war map she would
still have lost the war, so far as the pres
ent generation is concerned, because,
while she held Belgium and Northern
France, every port and colony of the Brit
ish Empire would be closed to her and she
would find herself a landlocked state,
which, to live, must have outlet upon the
sea and in the markets of the maritime
nations.
Further than this, each month the war
proceeds the German market Of the future
declines. The casualty lists that come
from our first encounters with German
troops in France will transform the famil-
lar trademark "Made in Germany" into
handicap for German goods for the next
quarter of century, and American credit
will not quickly be extended to the nation
recently our deadly foe. In addition, one
South American state after another is
entering the war, and as consequence
demolishing the German commercial
structure within it's boundaries. China is
a belligerent, and German markets in
China have passed TO japanese and Amer
lean control. German markets in South
America will pass to the United States.
As for Britain and her colonies, it is only
necessary to know something of the Cana
dian feeling toward the German to realize
how long will be the struggle for the
German TO get back into the British En-
pire. An intra-empire tariff and shipping
agreement are almost certain to follow
the war and close the German avenues TO
markets which were so long the most val
liable outside Of Europe.
Therefore the German, still knowing
fortunate days on the battlefield, per-
ce;ved a year age that his sole salvation
Law in ending the war before the full har-
vest of hate and prejudice had ripened
and while there was still chance of saw
inc some of his vanishing markets. That
norton OF Germany which is moderate,
rot because Of political or moral ideals,
but because of material and business con-
Germs last year demanded peace, and to
its demands, reinforced by the war
WEAKNESS of the masses OF the German
neople. the government replied by peace
proposal, abortive, probably wholly DIS
honest in real purpose, but in itself CIV
inc evidence of the true state of affairs in
Germany.
Military Situation Unchanged
Now, after year, Germany is to make
p new peace proposal. So far as the mill
tary situation is concerned the Germans
are NOT much worse off than they we're
vssr sgo. save as their submarine cam
nsign has failed and left them no weapon
against their chief fos--Grest Britain
They have lost battles and ground in the
West. but they have accomplished the
downfall of Russia and have greatly les