The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-08-10
THE STATES-GRAPHIC
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
AFTER THREE YEARS OF WAR.

Kitchener predicted have passed, and
still there is no peace. To those, how
ever who look at the war not merely
as a problem of military science but
as a great upheaval of the nations,
economic and political quite as much
as military, there are clear evidences
that peace is on the way. How near
it is we cannot tell, for it depends on
many things of which, thanks to the
censor, we have very imperfect knowl-
edge, and on certain traits in the psy-
chology of the warning nations the
influence of which we cannot measure
exactly.
When peace comes it will come sud
denly and no doubt dramatically. 1t
will come by the breaking down of
one alliance or the other under the
strain of suffering and hardship and
hopeless endurance. The causes that
underlie the war and the events that
have marked its course have made
negotiated peace almost impossible I'M
til the whole of Europe sinks into a
common ruin. Let us see which of
the great allies faces the fourth year
of war better prepared to sustain the
crushing burden to the end
First, from the military point of
view, it is obvious that we and our al
lies have a supply of men suitable for
service more than twice as great as
that of the Central Powers. But it is
no less obvious that the Central Pow
ers, by reason of their geographical
position and unified control can apply
all their strength to the struggle,
whereas, the United States by reason
of its distance from the battle field,
and Russia, by reason of it's industrial
backwardness and confused political
situation, can put only a fraction of
their potential weight into the scale
at present.
The condition of Russia is indeed one
perilous aspect of the case from the
Allies point of view. Like France at
the time of its own revolution, the
country is passing through a period
of Reorganization, of incapacity, Of
sedition and even of treason. But
there are patriots and strong men II
Russia, and the hearts of the masses
are firmly enlisted in the cause Of
freedom. If Russia should go com
pletely to pieces, the war might be al
most indefinitely prolonged, but we be-
lieve the peril at the gate will be suffi
cient to unite all Russia, as all France
united in 1892 in the face of the Ger
man invasion. With the Russian mil
lions reorganized and equipped and {
great American army at the front
there could be no question of the rela
tive strength of the two alliances.
In the matter of food and the sup
plies of war the difference is create
still. We and our allies have resour
ces incomparably greater than thos
of the Central Powers, and if that i
not enough the resources of the worl
are open to us through trade. Tn
German powers are shut in by block
ade that will become far stricter as tn
embargo policy of the United State
goes into effect. The German leader
believed that they could. restore tn
balance that lies against them b
means Of their submarines. The sui
marines have indeed caused great d.
struction, but it seems sure now ths
they cannot destroy enough merchar
vessels to force the allies to max
peace.
Financially, the story is the sam
Germany sails close to the reefs
bankruptcy. So great have been i
loans, and so weakened is its trad
that it can hardly find the means for
prolonged struggle without openly r
pudiating its obligations. The NAL
has already lost quite half its value
exchange. Our allies are in no SUI
position, despite their tremendous e
penses, and we ourselves have fina
cial resources hardly yet tapped
Politically, too, there is differen
to be pointed out England, Franz