The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-11-22
Not 10 Win js 10 Loss.

wv " VIII 10 " 6OOOs
There is a certain dangerous fall
lacy with reference to the war
which should not be allowed to
dwell undisturbed in the minds of
the people of the Allied nations.
This is that the Allies are fighting
now merely to uphold the theory
that if Germany is not crushed
she will remain a menace to the
world S peace.
This is not a theory. 1t is u
fact demonstrable by maps, figures
and general facts. A peace today
on a basis of no annexations and
no indemnities would not only
leave Germany free to repeat her
drive upon the world with the add
ed advantage of experience. 1t
would amount to an actual victory
in which Germany would be the &C.
onomic, financial and commercial
gamer, to say nothing Of the fact
that kultur would be vindicated
and the philosophy of material
might and junker tyranny fasten-
ed upon the world more securely
than ever.
For thorough and specific en-
lightenment on this point we are
indebted to Andre Cherandame, a
French scholar, who has published
an outline of his observations and
deductions in the November numb
err Of the Atlantic Monthly. 1t is
obviously impossible in a short ar
ticle to include even a resume of
his clever and authoritative dis
closures. However, his main de-
auctions may be noted.
In the first place, Germany
would have a tremendous financial
advantages over her enemies if a
peace without indemnities were
now concluded. Her blockade while
a candicap in the waging of the
war, has been her financial saliva
imported little. Which means that
her gold has remained at home and
that her debts remain in the hands
of her own people. She has been
forced to an economy the advant-
age of which reacts to her credit
ton. She has exported little and
in the event of peace.
With France and England it Is
different. Short of war supplies
from the beginning these nations
have placed tremendous and contin
uous orders abroad. Simultaneous
ly they have had to borrow. Their
credit, therefore, has been stretched
we'll night to the breaking point.
AS things stand now France mist
pay to foreign countries the stag
gering sum of twelve billion francs
year, with no corresponding COM
compensation, since her purchases
consist of products which are des-
troyed in use. For this reason
France is undergoing serious inn
proverishment while Germany gets
off comparatively easy.''
Germany has requisitioned the
labor during the war of $4,000, 900
enslaved human beings. She has
not gone in debt for this. She has
overrm 100000 square kilcmeters
of territory, and while this would
be evacuated in case of a "no an.
nexation" peace the amount of the
booty taken is almost incalculable.
Included in her thefts are railroad
systems, foodstuffs, raw materials,
finished products, work of art,
specie, jewels. securities and dir
ect war inposts after the manner
of the conquerors Of the pre- Chri-
stian era. Also among her thefis
is personal property. In the Keel
nisech Zeitung appeared this stand
ing advertisement: Furniture
moved from the theater of military
operations to all destinations. :"
The booty thus gathered by officers
and soldiers as pleased their fancy
mounts into the tens of billions.
But the most menacing of Ger
many S gains in the war is her hold
over her allies. Merely by printing
certificates based on the credit of
the German government she has
made Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria
and Turkey her heavy debtors.
She has protected these debts
against reputation by making it
appear to these nations that their
safety depends upon the strength
of her armies and her strategy.
Germany has left no link insecure
in the chain with which she has
secured her interests. Pan-Ger-
many, except for crushing defeat
by the Allies. remains intact.
The necessity for a decision is
abvious. Germany's ostensible vic
tory to date has been military. Her
actual victory has been financial,
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