The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-01


Of holding Serbia to her word If France had not en-
couraged the fatal Russian mobilization; if Russia
had not frustrated promising diplomatic negotiations
by that mobilization; if Britain had warned France
and Russia that she would not tolerate military ag-
gression-if any one Of these things had happened,
the might never have taken place.
If all had happened, and they would if statesman
ship had prevailed there would most certainly have
been no World war at the time. But there was no
real craftsmanship, and Europe partly strobe and
partly stumbled into the greatest misfortune which
ever came to the human race
Some ten million persons were killed during the
war and the total casualties amounted to 36278ooo
in killed and wounded. The monetary cost was esti-
mated officially at $331,612552OOO. Writing shortly
after the was over, Professor Bogart said on
this point
THE figures are both incomprehensible and ap-
paing, yet these do not take into account the
effect OF the war on life, human vitality economic
well-beng, ethics, morality other phases of human
relationships and activities which have been dis
organized and injured.
"It is evident from the present disturbances il
Europe that the real costs can not be measured by
the direct money OUTLAWS of the beigerents during
the five years Of its Duration but that the very
breakdown of modern economic life may be the price
exacted"
Professor Bogart'S words, we must admit sadly,
are even more true and timely today than they were
ten years ago. Where did all this carnage lead? Did
it pay anybody involved? Austria Hungary went
down to ruin. Czarist Russia passed away falling
to obtain the coveted straits which were the real
reason why Russia pushed Europe over the brink
in 1914.
France obtained Alsace- Lorraine, but there is now
as much discomfort with French rule in the lost
provinces as German dominion before 1914 Ger
many suffered appalling losses If. every way. and
Great Britain probably never will recover her pre-
war prestige and prosperity.
Only Serbia profited nightly. but forty million
souls and three hundred billion dollars is a rather
high price to pay for initiating this backward Yugo-
Sav state.
Historical scholarship has proved that our war
time convictions sadly mistaken and MISPLACED
instead OF burly Hun jumping on unsuspecting VIC
TINS, we now know that the guilt was distributed
among all nations. Under the circumstances which
existed IN 1914 Austria wished local but not gen
eral war; Serbia France and Russia, European war:
Britain, Germany and Italy, no war at all; but were
too selfish incompetent or diatory to prevent the
crash.
Likewise even entente military historians have adj
mltted that Germany far from being the UNIQUE mill
'01y ocCopuS OF Europe In 1914, outnumbered
hopeleSSiy on land and sea by her enemies.
How about the ideals for which we poured ont
blood and money? Have the noble issues set forth
by MI. Wilson in 1917 and 1918 been realized? The
war to end war and ornaments failed to materialze
Last year the world spent $4,15S000OO0 for arma-
ments $100000000 more than the year before France
ana her allies have military strength amounting to
more than forty to one against their old enemies No
such military preponderance has been known since
Juhus Caesars day. France still struts as victor
at moment when good will is needed to save
humanity.
Nor was the world made safe for democracy With
pIutocracy, Communism and Fascsm in the saddle
democracy is in greater disrepue and jeopardy than
at any other time since the revolutions of 848 Nor
have the rights of small nations and self-deterina-
ton Jared much better.
New peoples have passed under the yoke The
oppressed have become the oppressors In Macedonia
Croatia the south Tyo and other places freedom is
IN greater eclipse than among the repressed nation
alities in the dual monarchy of 1914
World organization is still dream of the future
The League of Nations supports many fine hunani-
tartan bureaus but it never has bitten into major
international controversy in it's decade of existence
The world court does not even handle the kind of
cases likely to lead to war.
Security If there is any, still is procured by sheer
military force or diplomatic duplicity. The peace
of justice proclaimed by Mr. wilson, turned out to
be one of the most vindictive settlements in human
history from the destructive results of which our
alarmed leaders right now desperately are endeavor-
ing to rescue the western world.
Such are the fruits of the four years of carnage
and the thirteen years of folly. There is little use
OF crying over spilled milk. But it is not too much
TO hope that lesson terrible and so plain as this
can end policies designed to lead to tragedy as
great or greater than that which started seventeen
years ago today.