The Washington times., 1918-03-10

for our lives. We have done things
which civilization vii not forgive
and which We can only compel II to
reprleve by showing that we are in
vincible and therefore immune from
punishment. That Is a great factor
OF strength, and the nation knows 1t.
Next, we are fighting on foreign
soil everywhere. We hold with our
allies some 1000. 900 prisoners. Ire
mendous efforts to break our front
have failed In the west, and IN the
east we have completely succeeded.
, In Italy We but recently won the
greatest victory OF modern or ancient
times. We are within an ace of up
setting the equilibrium OF our en-
emies and producing a general col
lapse.
Tive Groups Of Fees.
1--WE had against us two groups OF
foes: on the one side ancient ciYilizR-
ton, represented by Britain, Italy,
and France: on the other, 4 hodge
podge of far lehs developed eastern
communities. a perfect labyrinth OF
conflicting creeds and tongues, IN the
main Slav and deplorably organized.
OF these last We have become unques-
toned masters. They are defeated.
We can do what we will with them
and supplies from them will greatly
relieve our internal strain.
Tho frst group, the ancient West
ern peoples, resemble a shell which
Is still strong, but the contents OF
which are corrupt They cannot do
more than resist. Their Internal ma
terials. meanwhile. are wasting fast.
THE United States will bring a con-
siderable accretion of men to the
west. but this accretion will be
brought neither in time nor In sufh-
Client numbers to affect the issue.
The quarrel of the poor against
the rich within each of the western
states, the differing religions and ma
tional traditions of each. the in
evitable mlsunderstsnds which will
larise between them in the last period
OF strain will do their work, and we
shall be victorious in this sense, at
the very least, that we shall retain
all we have occupied. We shall
emerge stronger. comparatively, than
when we challenged civilization in
Europe three and a half years ago"
Such I believe to be the general at
titude directing the German minds at
this moment under Prussian influence
and under the recent great relief
which II derived through the break
up OF the Russian empire and the
tremendous victory on the Italian
front last October.
situation In Austria.
What will be the corresponding at
titude-if one could make a sort Of
composite photograph OF them-of the
directing minds in Austria Hungary?
I think IL will be somewhat as fol-
lows:
"Our state Is essentially a dual
state. standing on the two pillars OF
Magyar ascendRncy in the East and
the ascendancy Of the German race in
the West. Both combined are a mi
nortty. They are together only eight
cen or nineteen millions In a total
population OF over fifty millions. But
so long as they agree they are mas
ters. The Roumanians, Slavs, a few
Mahometans and conslderablo Jewish
populations which are subject to these
central masters can be kept subject to
them, but only on certain terms. We
have had to be very careful, even in
times OF peace, to accommodate and
balance the various races which sup
port the throne of Hapsburg-Lorraine.
War has put upon us a very much
forse strain than upon our north !
German allies and hackers. We have
lost something like four times as
many men In prisoners: population for !
population. we have had more deaths. {
The absence OF large towns and door
er communications have made central
control more difficult and have In |
fllcted upon US a strain OF famine and |
disease worse than that in any bellIg- |
erent country.
Differ with Germany.
I'VE do not aggree with our German
allies that mere tenacity. indefinitely
prolonged, will carry us through. But I
we do think that II we harp on the
idea OF returning to our old state Of ar F.
fairs. especially II We talk OF giving
larger local freedom to the subject Z
nations within our boundaries, the ex-
hausted nations to the west OF us will /
be moved to accept our terms.
Meanwhile we are very much /
afraid OF what 10 going on In Russia.
To the German empire and its rulers |
It may seem nothing but a general |
breakup which offers them splendid /
OF economic exploitation |
after the war. But the majority OF
our subject population II Slav. and |
Slav popular movements have always |
been very catching. We look upon /