Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1917-04-26
THE GERMAN

H GERMAN SITUATION.
The fact of the matter is that the average person does not
know and cannot know the exact situation in Germany.
Press dispatches indicate GREAT internal troubles. Thei
taboring men are reported to be on a strike. Even the NUM-
lions workers are declared to have suspended operations Tor
the time being. !
But whatever the truth may be, English and French ex-
perts agree that the war is likely to continue until 1918, with
the probability that it will not stop under two years.
With the spy system which the entente allies must have
maintained, it does not seem probable that the English and
French have over-estimated the German ability to continue the
struggle.
Germany, it is now admitted, woefuly underestimate
at the outbreak of the war the power, OF the English to fight;
The German military experts seem to have taken it for granted
that Great BRITAIN could not ralse ana tram an army Mt for
coping with German efficiency in time to prevent ignominious
defeat OF the entente alliance.
Germany now sees its mistake. 1t now perceives that the
French and the English were enabled to hold back the German
of millions and have now one of the greatest fighting forces
the world has ever known, equalling if not surprising, man
for man, the magnificent fighting qualities of the German
Let us not, therefore, hug the delusion that Germany's in
ternal struggles portend the early collapse of the German
military power.
Mr.. Balfour, who was formerly prime minister of Great
britain, and who is now a member Of Lloyd Georges cabinet,
told Washington reporters the other day that if America is,
counting on a short war he fears it will wake up some morn
ing to lind itself fearfully mistaken. 1t is Mr.. Balfour's opin-
ion that Germany is able to continue the war for perhaps more
than two years and that it is not likely that the central, powers
will cease fighting until practically forced to do so because of
exhaustion. If Mr.. Balfour is right about it, this war is only
about half fought out.
This idea that we should sustain the president merely be-
cause he's the president is wrong. We should sustain our
harp about sustaining the president miss the chief point. It's
our government and ourselves that We should sustain. When
ever our president goes astray, there's not the shadow of an
excuse for following him. Let's sustain our government be-
cause it's in the right. The president is but a big spoke in the
wheel.
Newspaper dispatches report that the storage houses in
Chicago and other big cities never were so crowded. Specu-
lators are buying up everything in sight and holding for higher
prices. we suppose about the time that all the available farm
products IN the country are in the hands of food gamblers
the government may step in and take III all over. at hu rroftc
for the gamblers.
|
With the price of potatoes soaring around among the
clouds, with flour at close to three and a half dollars a sack.
with steak at eleventyfour cents ! nonnd. and beans tiobl;na,
the ethereal blue, the fellow who draws wages amounting to
only two dollars and a half a day must have a greater financial
head on him to support himself and family than has John D
If it happen to be that the war is brought to 4 close in tho
near future, so much the better, but in the meantime it is well
British and the French experts have not over-estimated the
German strength and endurance.
The trouble with Royal johnson, 50 far as his vote aoainst
war IS concerned, is that he has sought to explain it. lie he'd
kept still and sawed wood after the vote was recorded, heidi
nave less explaining to do in the event Of his seeking renomi-
nation.
This war will have been in vain unless democracy shall
succeed autocracy as the ruling principle in international af
Ialrs. Therefore, America must fight until autocracy is over
thrown.
It's well enough to urge the farmers to increase their
Yields Z but they and the consumers should be protected from
the rapaclty OF the food gamblers.
Many men found fault with Mr.. Roosevelt as president
because he assumed to be the whole cheese, But what about.
Nj. Wilson in the present crisisf
It Is appalling to contemplate the cost Tin blood and
tareasure) Of this war provided Nj. Balfour's estimate of its
duration is well founded.
Winter is lingering in the lap Of Spring, and sprina -
trying to sit on the lap Of Summer.
# rains alike Oh the Just and the unjust-bnts the unjust
do 9 lot more kicking about it.
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