The Washington herald., 1922-09-20

cards stacked for another world war Once
Russia seemed in fair way to crush the newly
established and convenient republic of Poland,
with the fearful prospect of uniting her masses OF
man power to the brains of revengeful Germany
and overwhelming western Europe.
Once the good peasants of Upper Sesia called
upon to choose between the chaos OF Poland and
the comparative order of Germany, voted in
fashion mysterious and exasperating to nightmare
ridden France. The result that the allies took
sides to whether the treaty OF Versailles should
be upheld to the letter whether it should be up
held only while it suited the convenience OF the
French.
Once rejected and worthless emperor sought
to regain the throne OF Hungary. His musical
comedy act was staged amid conflicting maze
OF national jealousies and national aspirations in
such timey fashion that a general conflict threat
ened for day
On each OF these occasions journalists and
statesmen speculated boldly the prospects of
new world war. Each attended by OF
circumstances far more dangerous than those
which surrounded the murder OF the archduke of
Austria in 1914 that resulted in the greatest con-
hct in history. But in of these instances did
anything very serious develop. Russia routed
at the moment when her victory seemed most as
sured Upper Siesia sputtered and smoked for
month but did burst into flames. Prompt
action by able and patriotic Hungarian regent
sent Karl in fight across the border before the
war oflces had time to lay their plans.
None OF these crises approached the serious
ness OF the present situation in Asia Minor. Talk
of another general war is more prevalent than
ever. Prophecies OF spirituaists and religious IA
natics being recalled. Propaganda is flooding
American newspaper Offices. Young men are fling
applications for military commissions. European
powers mobilizing their armies. Crowds are
watching newspaper bulletin boards as eagerly as
they did in August, 1914. Everybody is spcculat-
ing the probability OF war.
Now it is possible that Mustapha KemaI will
never fire shot the straits at Stamboul
1t is possible, probable. that the present al
fair will blow harmlessy as did the pre-
vous three. 1t is the earnest hope OF everybody
with any acquaintance with the horrors OF war
that nothing more will come of it. Judging from
dispatches out OF looted Smyrna enough misery
has been caused already fill the quota of an
ordinary small war
But tho fact remains that just the opposite is
possible. The stage IS for the greatest strug-
gle in history. Everything is propitious for hurl-
ing turbancd Turks, white-robcd Hndoos stolid-
faced Russians French apaches and priests and
peasants. English country gentlemen and bank
clerks and mechanics, German wine growers and
drill sergcants, Italian mountaineers and farmers
nese silk spinners. Chinese coolies, negroes from
the junseS OF Africa college students and govern
mcnt clerks and chauffcurs from Washington d. c.
all into the fierce blaze OF another world war.
Now the young OF Washington and other
American cities divided into two camps Those
who were 10 in 1918 praying secretly that
Mustapha kcmal will get his troops into Con-
stantinoPlc. massacre most OF the Christian popu-
lace. and succeed in efectng liason with the Rus
SANS They want world and they want
America TO be involved because they are Jealous
OF the priced adventure in which their older
brothers participated This is the sort of talk that
goes around among the cadets at Central High
School and the freshmen at Washington universi-
ues-at least among great many OF them
What are the older brothers saying: They are
saying, IN the first place, that they hope the war
ends Just as It is. In the second place they are
saying that they see why America should
become involved. even if the rest of the world is
OF course, ii the United States should become
involved in there would be no trouble in rais-
ing an army Men would answer the call to arms
with hardly protest, they always have and
always will. But the men who took part in the
last conflict are bound to be the most conscrva-
tive element in the nation whenever discussion OF
another fight takes place. They will demand in
the hrst place, real American issue plainly stated
and easy to understand 1t will be more difficult
to arouse their enthusiasm by clever catchwords
by waving flags and playing patriotic tunes The
United States had thoroughly sound position in
the war with Germany. But the greater part of
the officers and enlisted men in the American
army did not know what that position was They
were told that they were fighting for such things
as making the world safe for democracy" 1t
sounded we'll. but nobody took the trouble to ex-
plain what democracy was. They were told that
they were fighting for the right of self determ-
nation tor small nations" This also sounded nice
but L most assuredly was not what they wcre