"THE POINT OF VIEW"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 148, 12 March 1918, Page 7

"THE POINT OF VIEW"

A LOOK AT THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THE WAR

NO DOUBT ABOUT THE FINALE

Under the above heading, which appears over tho final part of his most interesting monthly war notes in tho American "Review-of Eeviews," Mr, Frank H. Simonds makes some observations that at the moment are particu-. larly timely.

"■ . .It does not seem to me that there , is a sound basis for real pessimism as to the final outcome of tho •struggle. Ever since tho Marno and Verdun I have believed that the war could have but one' ending, and that the defeat of every German purpose which threatened the liberty and safety of the world. To-day I feel more- certain than ever of this. At the Marne, at Verdun, and in the period, when Russian collapse was coming on and the United States was still neutral there was reason for doubt ;md pessimism. But not now.

"A great deal of unnecessary pain is caused because of the tendency of peoples to attach to every stray and passing incident a value- wliicli it does J lot have and lo be- depressed or elated by the news of each day. Now, the tact is that the news ot days really makes little difference iii a' war hko tho present one, In which the whole strength of many nations, is engaged. The war may be won by some sudden collapso. oii the battlefield, or .sonic sudden desertion in the Allied camp, but, looking back on tho past, it is clear that in similar wars', t>lo final victory has come to numbers and wealth; and tlio nation Which sought to gain world supremacy, while- its preparations were superior and 'despite its inferior ultimate resources,, has invariably failed and fallen. '

"The wars of 1/ouis XIV, of Napoleon, and our own Civil .-War liave the same underlying lesson. Nations which lost Austerlitz, Jena., Wagram, liriedlaud, whose capitals wore again and again occupied by Napoleon, could find tho courago to go on with tho struggle for liberty, and all Germany's successes have given her nosueli adyantage ovur France as Napoleon won in his wars with Prussia, Austria, or Russia. On tho other hand, it was ten years before' tho loos of Napoleon learned the lesson of mutual co-opera-tion • and while they wore learning that lesson tho French- people tired of the bloody sacrifice which attended every victory, and never brought peace. ''Last summer it was plain that tho German people were weary; and there were to be heard voices whose utterances suggested that tho end was not iar awaj Russian collapse has interrupted this peace agitation in Berlin, and Italian defeat has enabled the military party to get ndw license: As a consequence we must expect two more campaigns, one of defence u-hilo tho United States is getting ready, and one of olfenco when we are ready. But our Allies are better able to defend, themselves now than in 1914 or in 1916, and Germany is far weaker than when sho invaded Belgium or.assailed Verdun,

"War is liko a slow disease, but slow has been ' the progress of tlio world patient; there have been no desperate moments in 1917 to compare with those of 191G, and tho outlook for the new year is only gloomy because of the pain and agony, tho sacrifice and suffering which ■all must seo are inevitable Wo seo our own sufferings and thoso of our Allies, but wo know that the German's sufferings must bo far greater because oj- the conditions under which iio lives. Europe could not conquer Louis XIV, but at tho end of tho war of Spanish Succession Louis had been cured of his great ambition to rule Eurupe, and Franco sank Imelc exhausted from her sacrifices ' doomed to the terrible scourge of tho Revolution.

1 ! Tho Objoct of the War, ,; "The object of this war is to de- ■ stroy the German belief that his people i aro a, superior people to whom it is i permitted to break every law and violate every convention of humanity and ■; decency in tho effort to dominate mani kind. I'eace with tho German, whilo . j he holds to this doctrine, is impossible , on any terms, because 110 agreement I would outlast his return to strength, j And as this German view was a 11a- , tional view, it can only be abolished n\ hen tho whole nation have been j brought to surrender it. Lincoln in 1 our Civil War saw that there could j bo 0110 ending; that compromise was j impossible with those who were dcterI mined to disrupt the nation and who I made their main demand secession. ; "In this war wo have passed tho I Antiotam and the Gettysburg; we liavo | escaped tho greatest peril; and, it is j now merely a question of time until j by suffering, if not hy conquest, tho ! German people aro driven to abandon; that .portion of their doctrine which | threatens tho safety of all nations. Week by week and month by month the casualty lists aro tho most potent influence. Germany is bleeding to death; her sons are falling to British, Fronch, and Italian guns; they fell to Russian and they will presently fall to American. Her enemies are dividing their losses; she cannot divide hers. Last year tho liVench lost 300,000 in their conflicts with the Germans; the British, perhaps 800,000; but tho Germans lost not less than 1,000,000, and probably 1,250,000. ■ In 191G lie lost 700,000 against tlie French, an equal number against the British, and 350,000 against tho Russians and his other foes. In the same year the British and French losses were perhaps 750,000 apiece. In two years Germany has lost 3,000,000 men in battle; France a little moro than 1,000,000, the British 1,500,000. But Germany cannot continueto lose at this rate against theso enemies, and in 1919 she will have to pay tribute to tho United States also. A Long Road, but Sure. "To win bv attrition is a long road, hut it is a sure road. More than this, it ensures that after the war the Germans will find themselves handicapped for a generation at least by the destruction of their male population. As compared with her great industrial rivals, tho United States and Britain, Germany will be crippled for an indefinite time. She is using up her future now. And so her local victories, like the f; ir more considerable victories of Napoleon, can be endured with eqnananiity, so long as tho will to light of the Allies remains unshaken. We might have lost the war at thoMarne, or at Verdun. Germany might have j won had Russia gone and the United • States remained neutral, hut Germany cannot win now unless the German , really is a super-mail, and Iho Ameri- . can, the liriton, and tho Frenchman _ inferior and decadont people. And if ; this wero true the Germans would doserve to Will.'' 1 '