South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-19

BAIkI L
IL is as hard 10 fix any single
test and index Of the health and re
sisting power of a nation at war as
of an individual. The numbers Of
a nation may be counted. the weight
OF a man taken on the scales, but
this gives mere bulk not quality
Whether the bulk be fat or muscle,
chest or corporation" bay win
dow" remains 10 be seen.
One can measure the bulge or the
lifting power or the punch of the
muscles OF an athlete, or list the size
and equipment of the army which
nation can call TO its colors. But
these are the mere cutting edge of
the plowshare. how il will drive its
COnquering way through the long
ponds upon the heart and circula-
ton and vital resources behind it,
A nation at war is like a man
lighting a fever, or more aptly, like
one who has had the valves of his
heart damaged, so that its muscle
has TO work much harder 20 pump
the same amount of blood over the
body. At first everything is excite
ment and upset and block, half the
normal activities thrown out OF gear.
Collapse seems imminent. but grad
ually a sort Of compromise is ad-
justed, some parts Of the body learn
TO do with less blood, others TO
utilize more of it, compensation"
as we say in pompous technical
terms, lis established" and a work
ing balance reached which may be
maintained for years and even de-
cades.
Some cynic physician philosopher
has declared that the best way TO
reach a good old age is 10 acquire
some chronic disease and then take
good care of il.
Wars Compensation"
Nations have even greater wider
powers of compensation" and ad-
justment than individuals because
their vital organs and parts" are
interc Manageable, and they never die.
Moreover, paradOXic and even in
credible as il may sound there is
ground for doubt whether war is as
utterly abnormal a state for a ma
ton as fever is for an individual.
Certainly il is a process in which il
has had an astonishing amount of
experience, and which if il had not
been we'll able 10 carry on" at for
long periods without vital damage.
il would never have survived 70 the
present day.
Indeed. though we speak most
confidently and automatically OF
peace being the usual state and
regular business of a state, while
war is its occasional and exceptional
addiction and interlude vet even this
belief is not as firmly based as
could be wished. For instance a
careful study from this point of view
of the last 450 years Of European
history from 1850 TO 1900 by DIR.
Frederic Adams Woods reveals the
appalling fact that in the first cen
tury OF that period war occupied
50 percent of the time and in the
last century over so percent In the
whole $50 years there have been
only two periods, one of 10 and the
other of Il years, OF complete and
universal peace all over the contin-
emit
So that while Europe has un-
questionably made its greatest and
most wonderful progress during the
last century Of comparative peace. il
evidently takes a good deal OF war to
crush or bleed white" a nation
no more vivid and wonderful
demonstration of the rallying pow
ers OF nation under the strains and
horrors Of war has ever been fur
nished than that OF heroic France
| today For three years she has been
the chief bulwark Of democracy and
free civilization against the invading