Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1918-03-01
Bring in Japan.

million people, Austria-Hungray Win
SO million people, Bulgaria with Q
million people and Turkey with q
million people; total population OF
LA million people.
Allies: Great Britain with 46 million
people, France with 80 million people,
Italy with 81 million people, Romanla
with million people, Serbia with .
million people and Belgium with 7
million people: a total of LAT million
people (although it is doubtful WheJn-
er occupied Belgium and Serbia should
be reckoned in the COUNTY.
Limited to this lineup the war,
which has been a deadlock for nearly
four years, might continue deadlock
for four more years, unless ended Dy
an inconclusive peace-a peace some
what in Germany's favor, as the geo.
graphical status is in her favor.
But America is in the war now to
give the allies prependerance. She
expects to have million men on the
western front by the end of this year.
But it is by no means probable that
this will create a sufficient preponder-
ance The allies have had million
more men than the Germans on the
western front all through 1917 with
out making much progress.
Meanwhile the peace with Russia
will open to Germany the granaries OF
Ukrania, and it is very possible that
over naillion Austrian prisoners,
heretofore held by Russia, will be re-
leased and sent by the Kaiser to the
western front.
It will take all the year of 1919 for
America to add another million men
to her forces in France. Even then
the allies may not be able to push the
Germans back to the Rhine. And II a
negotiated peace ensues in 1919 or 1920,
the return Of our troops to America
will weaken the status of our allies
should new war break out. A year
of peace may enable the Germans to
recuperate for another offensive. This
is a contingency fully studied out, In
some of their war plans published be.
fore 1914. Would America enjoy the
prospect of starting to send her two
million troops back a few months
after bringing them home?
In the circumstances, even if the
Germans kept the pace, they would
have the whip hand over the allies.
The Mittleuropa scheme could be TAX
en- up again, and the Berlin-Bagdad
railway put through with all it's po-
litical consequences. With Russia dis
rupted, with German kinglets ruling
Bulgaria, Greece and perhaps Rou-
mania, and with the Sultan practical
.ly yassal of the Kaiser, Germany
might rebuild herself with little or
no obstacle into power far mightier
than ever. So she might proceed, with
out violence, to win the war, in the
years following an inclusive peace, by
manipulating the situation eft over
in her favor.
Nevertheless, it is mot improbable
that the War-weary world will consent
to an inconclusive peace which is
virtually a German peace-if the con-
.flict continues deadloeked beyond 1919.
The lessons of our civil war, especially
the trend of public sentiment in 1864,
advise that, patriotic and militant as
we now are, we can not be at all GER
tain as to what our people may think
two years hence about an expedition
AIRY war seemingly without end.
If the allied cause is being handled
by statesmen "a matter doubted by
many critics here and abroad, but we
nevertheless SO believe then the
high policy, the moral duty, the des-
perate necessity or bending all our eff
forts to win the war, anC whit speed
lily, cannot be to earnestly decided up
on We should call out to this end ey-
cry international resource possible,
pay ANY price, stake all our cards and
do it now and instantly.
Japan, with fifty million people,
has an army which at Mukden in 1904
outMNmbered and outfought that Of
Russia. Size is formally in this war,
but mot fighting. And she is not fight
ing because she has not been offered
her price, as Russia has offered Con-
stantin9ple and Italy Triest. Does
Japan wish a free hand in China?
What's China to the world as against
the menace of kultur? What are any
Oriental provinces or territories as
against interminable wars, billions Of
debt and naillion Of American lives?
Bring in Japan!
Catholic Citizen.