New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-07
Berlin Hangs Out the Flag Again

announcement that perrin mas UeSh OV'
tagged again than the fact that such
celebration has not occurred for many,
many months. Between the capture o.
Bucharest and that of Riga nearly year
has interviewed. In that year German ar
mics have been defeated at Verdun, Arras,
Ypres. They have been on the retreat IN
France for many months. and Italy has
stepped forward on the Isonzo to new
triumph over Austria.
Three years ago all Berlin was afiame
with enthusiasm over the triumph of Tan
nenberg and the impending destruction OF
France. Morhange, Charleroi, Neufcha-
team and Mons had been won and the Ger
man people were looking forward to that
colossal Sedan which should complete the
circle of German victories and establish
German supremacy in Europe. After three
wears Of war Berlin is again decorated,
5ut this time for the capture Of Riga from
the disorganized, incoherent mob which IS
tho Russian army of to-day. And this Gel
ebratjon comes at a time when the Allied
nations have refused peace which would
merely leave Germany as she stood on Au-
.rs+ I 1914. The contrast between Sedan
Dav. 1914. and 1917 is one of the most IL
Eliminating evidences of the present con-
i,tion Of the war. And yet it would be a
fatal blunder not to understand what the
German government and the German mill
.arv leaders are now up to. Peace on pos
slble terms for them-peace which would
leave the dynasty and the military caste
till in possession Of prestige and power
in Germany-is no longer attainable by
negotiation. Civilization has served notice
unon German autocracy that with it there
can be no peace.
Therefore autocracy in Germany has set
out upon a final effort to break the nerves
of the Allied people. 1t means by snatch
ing such victories as it can from collaps
ing Russia to build up anew the impress
sion that Germany is invincible and that
further persistence in the war is useless.
The German people are to be fired by the
story of easy-won victories, like Riga. The
world is to be cowed by new demonstra-
ton of German military might.
We are likely to have a series of Ger
man victories in Russia, because it should
lie recognized everywhere now that Ger
many may march from victory to victory
in Russia provided she is willing to spend
the men and the munitions, precisely as
u Germany destroyed Rumania a year ago,
after she had been defeated at the Somme
and at Verdun, after Russia had won great
victories in Galca and Italy had taken
Gorilla, and then used the Rumanian vic
tory as the basis Of a peace campaign.
Germany now means to build up struct-
ure on the ruins Of Russia's military power
which shall impress the world, and when
he campaign of 1917 is over, as it will
be shortly, then to make one final effort to
Get a peace which shall leave German mill
AIRY prestige intact and German autoc-
racy in position to resume its attack
upon Western civilization.
The military significance of the capture
Ct Riga is nothing. Paris, in the closing
days of the Napoleonic Cycle, celebrated
Dresden, Lutzen, Bautzen, but these were
only the prelude to Leipzig Napoleon could
rot conquer and could not make peace He
sought to achieve what Germany is now
aeeking to achieve-the moral domination
f the world by such military successes as
II was possible for him then TO achieve
He failed and he fell The doom of Ger
man military power is written if the cam
paign of 1918 is fought. This is true
whether German armies are decisively de-
feated in the field or whether Germany is
subjected to that final year of economic
pressure which will make recovery for her
a matter of decades, which will build up
al over the world an area and an atmos-
phere of hostility which will make it prac-
tically impossible for German commerce
and finance to restore their old position.
Germany is fighting now to avoid fight
ing next year. Her minor triumphs will
i've magnifed at home and abroad. Every
German agent and every German influence