Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-04
BaLearia'S Surrender.

Both as a token of German weakness and as
fresh fuIcrum for allied strength, Bulgaria's sur
render marks a highly significant turn in the war
But to consider it more than this to regard it as the
middle or even the beginning of the last act would
be extremely hazardous.
Since the launching of the great Entente often
sive in Macedonia the wires between Berlin and
Sofia have been burning, we may be sure. with
feverish orders and appeals. Germany perceiving
at the outset the perlous chances of the situation
babe Bulgaria hold fast and promised reinforce
msnts to be sent as speedily other imperative
calls would allow. She had every reason to help
the BuIgars promptly as possible and to the
limit of her available reserves, for she saw anx-
iously enough the dangerous conseque ces that
would follow the fall of her Balkan accomplice.
She saw the closing of her highway to Constanti-
nopIe, the revealing of the iron ring which she
broke through in the autumn of 1915, the renewal
of the threat of invasion by way of Austrias back
door And beyond these imminent perils she
her towering dream of Mittel-Europa topple and
fade like palace of clouds; saw her vision of
riches and gorgeous dominion in the east dissolve
into thin air Germanys every interest, both imme-
date and ultimate, urged that she do her utmost
to prevent Bulgarias collapse. Why. then. were
the needed reinforcements' not duly forthcoming?
The obvious answer bears impressive witness to
Germany's declining power. She did not send
achievements, critically needed though they were.
because she dared not spare them from the western
front. For the first time. her maneuverable re-
serves have proved quite unequal to the exigencies
OF the war-a fact too strikingy significant call
for comment.
But we should emphatically reject the tempting
and hazardous assumption that since Germany
failed to stem disaster in the Balkans she is the
brink of final defeat in the west. 1t is more
sonable and certainly far safer to regard her treat
ment of the eastern problem evidence of deter
mnation to fight her utmost and to the last trench
in the adhesive western field She has done in
her besetting circumstances the most prudent thing
she could do; seeing the inevitable in the Balkans
she left Bulgaria fate, and fell preparing with
redoubIed energy and concentration for the defense
of her own borders. She was forced to choose be-
tween two dangers, both of which doomed darkly
enough; but unquestionably she chose the lesser.
And as a result she is better buttressed for the
titanic struggle along the Rhine than if she had
diverted large forces TO the east, even though by
taking the latter course she had succeeded for a
staving of Bulgarias collapse We say this
not minimize the mb ortance of the allies Balkan
victory. for it is manifestly of the major de-
velopments of the entire but to caution against
excessive optimism at this critical juncture. The
fight for freedom and humanity will not be won
until Germany is beaten into unconditional sur
certainly far from that point Her morale is weak
ening, but by no means broken. Her situation is
extremely grave. but not yet desperate enough to
wiring from her the cry OF the conquered. Her
fighting powers severely tested but her cunning
and treachery more than ever alert, more than
resolved to win by some subtle peace maneu-
yer IL success by grows utterly hopeless 1t
is imperative, therefore-more now than ever
that We beware OF German deception and steel our
wills to fight until the Hun is crushed complete
ly and forever.
Bearing in mind this caution, however we may
we'll rejoice in Bulgaria's surrender as giving the
Allies a powerful upperhand in the East and
reinforced assurance of complete victory if
they fight and labor unswervingly for that
end. There is ample ground for the prediction,
freely made in London and Paris, that Turkeys
equalization is now merely a matter of time and
probably not great while at that Isolated from
Teuton support which she receive only by way
OF Bulgaria and staggered by the disastrous defeat
of her armies in Palestine. Turkey sees destiny
unshunnable' coming darky upon her. Whatever
strategems she may try her only ultimate recourse
it would seem, is to throw herself upon Allied jus