The Washington herald., 1918-06-07
A Glance Into the Future.

Assuming, OF course, that the Germanic gam
bic will fail, that the Kaiser is not going to
reach Paris, beat his enemies to their knees,
achieve decision, what is the probable course
of the war;
Months ago President Wilson called 1913 the
eliminating year of the conflict doubtless he
meant that the present summer registers turn
ing point in the fighting rather than that it points
to early end of it. For there is straw in
the wind today stimulating the hope that we
the end of the road. The world is witnessing
the high tide of the Teuton cause; \ its brutal
strength is revealed at its zenith, although it is a
strength which will decline rapidly when the great
opportunity, which it is trying desperately to
make good, slips by
But it is fairly certain that 1918 will go down
into the history of the war as Germany's big year.
If by September and October the enemy offensive
is definitely and ndisputably checked, having failed
OF all its major objectves, then the fighting will
for the winter, and the spring of 1919 will be
looked forward 70 the time when American par
ticipation may possibly be determining factor in
the operations then undertaken
We will have between 100000 and 1000, 900
men in the field next spring; perhaps the lat
ter figure is conservative. The question arises:
Will this tremendous force in the war, added
to the accessions of strength recruited for the
French and British armies, be sufficient to under
take the grand offensive of the allies, adequate
crush the enemy? 1t is moot point to which
we inclined to answer in the negative. Ger
many will still be tremendously strong next year,
unless internal decadence and degeneration say her
stamina and break down her military front. 1t is
quite possible that her acute shortage of various
metals and materials the condition of her rail-
roads, to say nothing of her food situation, steadily
growing worse, and the prospect of the clumsy
Russian bear giving her far guerrilla trou-
bic than she anticipates, may weaken her almost to
the point OF catastrophe within the next nine
months. But it is not probable. 1t is quite true
that the great hope of the German high command
is pinned this summers operations; but it is
going give up the ghost before it is
smashed the field of battle-it will gamble in
true heroic fashion to the end, determined that
ii it must fall the world must fall with it.
1910 ought to be for the allies what 1918 is for
Germany 1t is too much to assume that the enemy
will be beaten to the point of surrender next
year. But the should take such turn that
even Junkerism will that it is entirely in the
hands of their enemies. Junkerism will put forth
peace kites in anxious and seductive style as it
sees the end approaching; but they will be un-
svailing; BrSstLitovsk will shine forth as lamp
to guide civilization. AS these overtures are re-
jccted the fighting will continue, with the Bochc
forced to give way in the West in the face of the
enormous pressure placed upon him; perhaps he
will be forced clean out OF France and Bel
gium-glorious day when that much shall have been
accomplished, Wncn tne SOIL OF CIVILIZATION snail
have been reclaimed from pollution!
Study the rising curve of American power.
Look forward to 1920, if you will know what Ger
many is going to get Next year between 10000
900 and 100000 tons OF shipping to be pro-
duced this side of the Atlantic; the total by the
efd OF 1920 will perhaps be double this
amount. This great merchant fleet-truly war
fleet if there one-wl be sufficient to
transport and equip army of 100000 and more
in France. II the continues-but why specu-
late, when the future invites to figures al
most inconcevable, and yet quite conceivable when
considers the vast power and resources OF this
nation OF ours, yet largely undeveloped, for
either the purposes OF war or peace
Perhaps, before this ends
We shall have the biggest army OF any OF the
combatants in the field;
a fleet OF aircraft far beyond the present
dreams OF aviation; army of the air in itself;
One of the greatest battle fleets, and certainly
the greatest cargo-carryng fleets built and
sembled under one flag.
These not merely the prospects, they are
the certanties of 1920. II Germany temps fate by
prolonging the war that long, it is not amss to
veal the thunderbolt that America is preparing for
her.