Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-01-04
Possibilities of Peace.

There is u growing worldwide be.
lief in the possibility of an early
peace.
There is nothing definite In the
situation further than that everybody
is instinctively feeling a change in
the attitude Of the powers to the sub
ject.
We think we can see q change In
the whole. situation; but we are not
looking for settlement yet while
Russia Is pretty well smashed. but
not at all satisfied with herself, be.
cause her resources are still simply
immense and the division among hel
people is sufficient to leave her In
doubt as to the extent to which she hai
played fool.
France has suffered terribly and is
siH suffering. but has no notion OF
: aa, speace with the invader on
powerful backing by which she is
now being supported,
The British empire is being drain
ed as it has never been drained be-
fore, and although it ID not lacking
in either the pluck or endurance to
continue the struggle indefinitely, 1,
Is looking on the enemy with consid-
erably more respect, to say the least
Of 1t. than at the beginning.
Nobody, however. need look for the
British to lay down, for they are not
built that way.
1t is not to be denied that Ger
many has put up the most terrific
and remarkable war that the world
has ever witnessed. She has given
the European Allies a fearful fight
and she has about plenty herself;
but she iH not all in yet-not by u
great deal.
Except for the entrance Of America,
Germany would now easily be the
dominating nation of the world-su-
preme on both land and sea. But
since the entrance OF America she is
not that and she is not going to be
that.
Up to this time America has done
very little other than furnish her al
lies with food. equipment and mu-
nitions, while she is getting ready
herself. Her getting ready has in
volved the spending Of billions and 1t
will involve the spending Of still 9TH
er billions; but 1t will do more than
that. The blow she will strike when
she is ready. will prove the decisive
factor in the struggle.
England and France know this
and Germany knows 1t.
This Is one of the things-it is the
principal thing that is contributing to
the widespread feeling Of peace
throughout the world.
Germany Is In a position to get
a better settlement now than she can
hope to get after America has struck
the terrific blow she Is now prepar-
ing to strike and Germany knows It.
But Germany is not showing any
disposition to lie down yet Appar-
entity she is fully resolved to grapple
with America before she decides to
give up any Of the advantages that
she has won.
However, Germany is now on the
defensive. and she knows that too.
All the Allies understand that
while they have the ability and the
power to bring Germany to her knees
the price they will have to pay for
that consummation still promises to
be something appalling.
Germany can get peace now by CIV
ing up a great deal more than she
ever expected to give up; but a. to
whether she will do that or go on to
q conclusion remains to be seen,
1t may be that peace ID near, and
we hope II is near; but whether 1t is
depends, in our opinion. on whether
Germany has sufficient supplies Of
food and clothing. principally food.
to take her past the breaking Of the
present horrible winter.