THE STORY OF THE WAR.

Thames Star, Volume LII, Issue 13940, 19 July 1919, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE STORY OF THE WAR.

Tihe miadn iprincaple ait issue in tlie greaib waa' waa the survival of democracy, whioh w;as assailed in the first jp'kce by miilitiardised autoci'acy, m ifha iSeooind ipiaiCe by terroristic! aiuarcihy. Dean'oicaiajcy, which peauaits. neiiitihier the tyranny. o£ nmlitiaa'y custo over the (peoipie, noa' that of class. ovei' ©lass, has raaU y&i. seen th© last of BoiisihwiSiii; but its overthrow of auitiocaialciy, a,s represented by Prus ©iiain. mtiiitlaaisimi, is to-day om© of tlifii gireiaifc laaidmiarks of histtoay. Tlio {purpose otf tihlia publicaitiion. will be sufficdeinltily sealed if it succeeds .'n 13iatiua i1ing, kx vivid aaid tani-tiifui form, tihe faitletful eivenrts of tire last fiiffcy momitihis. Hie cemita-al facit of tlie war is tiiait, foa- Gei-miany, there Avas nevei' aaiy j chance otf. siuccessi save by a deicfrsdve _ victory in the- Wieist'. Wliile tlie Fa-cinch. stood to tiieiir g'uu.a, imahitaining a. Europeaai; bridge-iwad _ amd battlefield foa' the ovei-sela! AjngioSflxons, GeiiTDOin heg'eniony of tHie Conitlineiiit, was iroipiossible; and lifierefoa'e, for G-ea-miainy, tihe ovea'thi'ow of I<Yanicie Avas tlie sine qua non. Al-

- erny ooai'idor. It uncovered Turkey 5 and Au&'ta-i'a-liuingary; and, by aio- • ceintiiuatiiing; tha despaiir of the latter I oouinitiy, paved the way for the uin--5 cofvemng .of Gevmiamy herself. Evem "'ho Geinniaai .people began toi see. tiliaiO tihe Weßteft^n giaiinisi were being- held > by Ludendcu-ff and Tlindenbairg! at " too high a ijd-ice. For of what profit- ■ vfiis it that the High Coanmand * should, 'by heiaivy Teinfonrceineniti, '■ postpone deaisive defeat in th& Wesit i- — &t -bhe cost of lelaving" opejn, tlie i baick-door? Gradually ihe futility of i tihiis. furioiiisi Wesifceirn: ' effort wais -■ brought home to Germany, ailoing' ■ wiith the csonsoionscD'essi of imipending > i sclaitiiion, en'oirclemen/t), and ovea-i : thirtiw Tlbo reoi ussue betivveem Vveßtiea'aeir I aaid Eaistarneir ds best glimpsed by ' {quoitling fi'cin tun editorial of idle Ev:euiing Poisifc, written on 17th Au--1 i .gust, at a' tiime whenl the question! ', waia ■stall hot: "Allied policy is to*, aedze .every cib/amae of esorting! d!ia*ec.t ; 1 ■pa-ieissam-ie in the Eias-iteiiii! theatre, ooai!I j .ai's'tieai'ti ,with nvoiti coimprcmisiing the' <'* 'dianc©.. to secure till© d&ciisiAre WeslI 1 eftin viicitioiry. Two tihinpis are basic Ito Allied suiooessi. Tbs rlrsit. is saapoiwea*, Avhrich iniciludes thei holding of tiie siuibonairine peril: the second, is miiliitaay v'ietioiry in the Wesiti. If possible, 'miliiitlairy , suip'remapy in, the East, mmsb b© added to these twain, but watilifcKiiu yyiiig.-. oimilsmig 1 ibh,e'i.]> ] Noib an oimnce of sitranguh necessary to die "West silxouid bei seat Ea,st.' But 1 neither 1 should tlie extrpise of power in tdi© Elaist be negieoted Avhem it is oixeTOisaibl© withioiuiti prejudice tio. the basia pilaaii." -Tlhei principle heirein. l'add) down dioa.9 'li'oit ceean to bei ciaipable of sea'iiouis cihiaillenge. Butt tlie real poiniT. ' of diffei'einc© bertiweem Westeaiieaisi amd | Easterners was not the principle, bu'tl i the appliciu^iom of iit. The real difi ierence lay in oonflicting- esitiimaiteis, of the mlilitai'v iotm& esseniiliail in; the

the Mame, he has to forestall Russian, mtervenitftoin-, but because his task postulates) effective arrival before tihe Americans. What the world is Avitneiseiing aib tlbis momenltl is notninig 1 less \foan ih& destruction of the postulated condition and the rain of Germany's hopie of victory. Onto j more, tihe enemy has lost the race by inches. Notlwithstanclinig' the Russian: ocillaipis©, , idle release from tihe Eastern front of a million German, soldiers, land tlie utmost Mgfatffulniess.. of tihe submarinesl, powerful American armiies -hare arrived, -not too late, in the decisive theatre of Europe- The j defemsivie balance in til.c Weisfa; is ulI ready restored, and the Allied mass I moves (irresistibly anward to the I point when.-© it will' provide a, conquering; margin." That axistiicd/piiiitlioin- pawed well- | founded, but its reailisatiomi Was as- ! seated by a draimmtTo development aiioiti ■■ at the tiime foreseen!. In the closing 1; |. days of tihe nionth of September, j whem tihe tide of 'success had set in ! strongly, lim thei Alliesi' favour ml tihe I Frainco-Belglian and Palestine spheres,.

mosib ereirytihikigf else the Germans succeeded in doing 1,. By attaching Turkey to theui'selves and AustriaI Hungary, they impose! without sea.----i-piofwetr, ,a, partial blockade' 6lf Russia*. By drawing- tin/ Bulgaria, they overthrew Sarbia, amd opened the BalkanTuirkiish corridoa- to the East- iiy {pioliticial intaigue following oin miilitaay acitdon., .they drove Rusisiar aaid Roiuaniand'ai temtpotr'airiiy ouifc of the wan"; oipened, but dlid noit develop, a Rusisiiao it)iad to Asia,: paiitiaUy diismeiinibeired Ruisisiia, enforced rtliejir sttraitiegy ujpons almost the Avhole East enn frtomlfc, and helped Ausitiriia-Huri-giairy tio a'niflicrti a colossal defeait iipioii' lialy. But always, whax th&y turned ■vvestiward to destlroy Fraince,' they me® with faiilure. In 1914, they faiiled ait .tliiei Maaiie; in 1916, at Vea'duml a,nd the' Soanane; in 1918, '0111 the whole froinifc. Eveiy Eas^evn vaoticiry, the. Gea'inaaiß found, inea'ely. cmanrvjiitted thera, to an other tttlt n/' the Wesitea'n wall; iimii through those •successive assaults they bled" to daatili. The wen' was iinally loist when they staked eveiythiiirr on the 1918 <ctMi»rp«ngau toi oiyieaftihiruw BFiraiice' :he-

fci!"o Araerioa,'si amiiva.!. By August it was certiaim, on the evidence of Ih.e Ainericiaini' r-e>iniPonicenietn.tiS', that .the intoi-woiven stnaitiegy of Ludendiorf aand T!jVpc:tz.bad mrissed i.ts- min.rk ; blie Geinrnian dreoim oi ■ vicfttoy had passed foTever.

GERMANY'S RACJ- AGAINS.T

TIME.

'She ineamiing of this thiird majoi'o«siaiuit, lupoa Fi^amce—the last aiu.d g pnc»i.t€Sit—'was defined ut the'^Evening Post on 3rd Auii'iitsit, in pm a^tliole re-' viewing the ' alteiiiniito atitiempit® o-f GaiTnaniy to conquer the Eaisiti fini-J oveifthn'oiw the West: "Stiill "a^'oithef yeiai 1 (1917) was / spein|t in completling; tilie ruiiii of Russda, dxiring which the Western iniiitdative. in. Haig's hands proved indeoisiive; and the da.wn of the presemtti year (1918) discl-oised • GerJ%njaiiiy onice moire a* Mberty to concejv gjtiraite agiaiinst Fnancc, amd tioi ooinicieinM:aT«tie in greater sitlremfftii than- erver •gbefore. In tibis kist adventure speed ■^ps moire tihian, eiven" es-wjitial to 'tihe bpejrmiain, not beoause, ais in 1914 a,t

the long-qudeiacemtr Al^lied army in Miaoedoiniia-ALbiainia (based on. Salonika and Valomia.) suddenly broke the

Bulgarian froait, and Bulgaria's sur-

l-ender quickly fofllawed. This poii-tiicio-niiilitiairy disaster shook the enemy aiU.ia.nc© tio its fouindaitliorus, and inci:dentally pa'aved how unoertadn are the foa'tunes of war. For n^onths, and ■indeed yeaaia, tlhe -Allied' aa-my ir.', Maieedicinda-Albaaiia. had been, by maaiy ca-itics, vlienved askance. In the

iwtaraiiiitlteiiti coinitu'o-vc^'sy between. Weisteruea-'s amd Easterner's,- the foa"; mier xiiOit irifi^que'iitly, naid n'oit. ail-

ways illogiioally, held up the proiSi■pecib of the Allies' defeait in the Westi because of tiheiir Eaistern divea-

siotas. As a miattten- of fact., the Bxil■^airfcm .simreanrleir proived the oomtersie, for Gejiniaiiiy tibea'eiby receaved a terr'lbla bilniw m till© Easti because of.heti 1 Wesit^'Ti diveirsicais. A few Germain division's miccjliit 'have protp/ped "ip Bul^a.rin. f.-T :\:v >':h a;- -yrrr': \-n,{-, wh^n Himdeinlbmnw and Lurkindoi-ff miaionattiswl '-nill aß"a,ilaiblei force to R'aimco

iin order to snitntieili v'cito'ry before

Amun-ics'.'s ."..rr'ivia?^ rhc.y d'pd «.o a& t Wi.^ OTst of BuJsra-ria's breiakdown. In other words, the streii^henmc: of tli.ei e-Tieimy romg in; tha We-it did rnoiti pre-

vend ■j'^ fciic-turo at the poiin,t whrt3n'ej the ailnnoisiti-foir.oroit.teni "diVem'ioo!." ] army -of the, Entente beo^an siiiddeTi.h- j

to operate.

SALONIKA STRATEGY

Tby ciuHioiuKUU'ii tilie-itd'ore forces itself; ijia-li, evuu m>.mu.S' Kiwsda, jiia E.U'Uarte's en'vek'puieuit pdiui- yielded Iji'idlia'rit tosu'Lk 1. U'liiLg-iu-'jirs suaVca- | dtsr demonstrated t<lu..A"., daypae Wesi.- | eriitaV o-yi'dois-uis, ;ui-d ji-ctwitdi^ttaaiicl- £ ing the 'dilaitaiuaiess vi'uxti, iewt Serbia, s in 1915, the occupation: -of &ii]mi!ikii-1 was stiiiaitiegictiilily &cnmd, and its I ovidciiflitiioai A\iciuld bswo been n bluiiriloii J j frcan ■iiie offeaiiSiive us well ti.s 1 tiie de- | fewsive sttaaidipoaiirti. ilud there- been » no Rusaiaii' fooaiiti, and alsoi iiio- Maee-1 doiniia-Albnmliiai from*,' the CeabmJ j Poiweii's in 1918 could have cioaiceaiiirated Westward with iini|)Ui:i:it;y. BvJ * tihe dwwninitiic en,-cent in, Ji\i]i^v.,v',a> sliowed to tlicuii their err-on-, and the eiTOo* wag vital- Tsie loss of Bullgifiria removed tixe contaecitdng link of the eai-

I West; a.nid 'maicih. of the trodble wais j reoiTioived wh&n Marshal FoicJi', with '» the policy lie rep'resieinted, was ©le- | Yftitied initlo a ipiLaoei oif aaiitihioinitiy. As j Grenei-'aiifesimia, Focli ■waist dni a ;pioisd-

tii'Oin- fa siay whiatt tlh t e West required,

and he speedily showed tiha'tfi h© un'd'ersttto'od, , amd ipiofeisessed, +'hei secret of "wiTi'niinw biaitltlas aciainsii tilie G-ea*-mjaini in the decisive sphere. Thus, at I'aeti, Westi amd Eaisiti were r'eiveialec! in - a vicitloriioius ©xeifaise of gdotr'Joivi:. ooi-iope^altliioin and reciprocity.

VARIOUS BLOCKADES. Blockade taicitiicisi — m whiich, of courae, 'the Aliited aiiarial «tran.gve-' held stood siufpreimet—pir'ofoundly in-' fhifenced the cioiurse of tih© war ; :md Germiairn ■snibiairhid'son- had. are^ ?::!; tiomftiry efiecit nioib only on. the nislitaiy isiide but also on the political. I'! m.uis.t ba cionciaded that the pfTrt'iailblockade imipoisied by Geir'miany cv.i Eur'openn Rusisiia was a ,sit.raitsi'.n'o suoaess; pa^oibaibly ib weakerae'cl fv

.pootrly oifgaimised State like Russia moire quickly thiara the Central EmI sprlres were weakened by the blmckade set uip ngiaiimsitj. theanisielves by the sea.. a.nd land foa"oeis of,■ tlhe Allies ; bu't 1 the- German ooncieip'tionii of- a s.u'bmairma blockade .mrissed its mark disa.stroiusiy.- To .its ca'edit may be (placed ;\i -tairifio mertiamitiile a.tita'i'tiido, which diireir'teid an iinimiein;si9 aniouiit. of Allied laibciir and miaitiea-teil that otlierwisia mlighii lia,ve baien/ ii'tiilised in a. miore diiveab offensive. Buti to its debit are the tiremieindoiuis facts that itf assiiT'ed tihia bedligea'snoy of America, amd it failed to pireiveaxt the Amenvician trooipis ooanting to FraTi.ee. j The replacement of Russia by America g'a.ve. Genxitany the doubitfull j benieifi'b of. beinioj able ' to ini'tivate in j

\ 1918 tlie poiiicetnitirafced offensive 5 against the sorely-tried French. 1 Againsti this, it eiub away froni the ( Allies' cause the incubus of Tsari-sm, Tand it added the deanoctratising i.nii fluenee of the American, President and I liia hundred millioni English-speaking ;] people. Am Anglo-Ruissdan! Alliance | could never have been in the fullest semse popular; (if was ■jneoassiairily official, idliploraiaitlio, and—omi on© glide <m' the other, 'therefore ipirobaibLy on both—imiperiailistio md in part . annexaitiionrist. From its very nature, am Anigio-Amieniciam Alliance -could have nonte of these tendencies ; subject as it must be to the popular will on both sides of the Atlianitio. if could only bone; to the Allied aims an influence at onco deiirjiO'D'ra.tiissnp; anid vitalismg 1. And ths eivolut-iiofn. of the Allied' cia.nis© in thaife directi'iu-i vav> cue cif tihe gft-aifet. fe'dtis. of 1017-18. JMoirally, the effect., boih on :Mie v.'a.v amd onii th,& waiM's future, Araexica's alignment, ■with Bfitain. Frfonci? and Italy, is inoailcaulsible. Mi.lvha.itly, it miade :tih*a waa- miotre till an orer ■». ocnflict beitt^esoi We:stiern pefi-jirnvei' and Cbniitiineintiail land-power. And, inaidenitifilly, it rednisiuvod the tsxaticfd , defeat of the m-tbaniairiiiel, thnit. teir'ribfle thr'eiat tb natdonisi maritime iiiivcl insular. KULTUR VERSUS CUL'iURE. . T!he_exii!t of Ruas'i'a. and the enitiry of Ameiriciai eniaibled Dr. Helficrich t>r, oibsetvve that -ih& war had resolved itself into a srtlrulgigjle beitweeu th.e> politicial syateon of Germany aaxd the politicial, stys'tem- of Britadm. The ,2'e>nfcirallisiaitiioin wQigi -noitl unjust, proivided thiat Dr. Heilffericih initended hiis formuila to embrace afli those moral as •weill -ats miliitan'y cointsiden.'iaitiioins whiicf:! ithe l^jVal sysitieimis ■ ooinincite'. Greti'Tnamy's ■wan 1 'ai2!aiinßt th.Gi Wesit ■a.miO'UDiferl tio^ a. chfiiHOTgiei by ciolleotave dif?iciipiliny.xl "officiiemiciy" tbi in.dsvidu«.l 'freedionn. It oi cilfoilileiiige baise'd o:n iiio mioral aoiii,gidenj'aitiion whaireiver, b'.::t \ en aibilitrv to .. wield th\swoii 1 d ; and at compelled the. twogi'eiaiti br'aiucheis of the Eo.giish-s/p©ak-in^ peioqjle to- report tb' military'co'inpuilsiioini. Their riibilitiy -to doi this. 'i,ti the present isitiag 1© of their c.ivilisa.ti:oin., w:a.s as great a, discKweiiy as that of' CoilumbUiS, amid dla.zzl'ed- erven^boicly, none more thian th© Gen niiansi. Therefore, while foi-Cied to adiriiit .that deTnocraciy is a. poior . war-miaichMie, jic deniioiarat showid forget that!, -whein 'forced to figjlirti for itis life, defflft craicy d'espdte .-its inlierent disadvantages, took up the 'Siword to the full extent of its huaman ciaipaoity. The 1 woiiid tihen siaiw that Avhat had besn donie one© coiuild 'be done aigjain ; and tho "new" Britlish.- and Ameriea.n airmiies in France, with all their machineiry imperfeotliiontsi, esitiablisihed an, 'imiperishaible g-uiaa-antee of deano~ oraoy'is aibiliiity to defend itself agaa-ast "effiiciiemt" ■aiiitoca.'acy. "If," wrciba the Evening 1 Post, "Riragia finds her soul, and China proves i'xicoffwertdbile to militiarisonl, 'in all pi'obabiility Wilheilm will prove to be tho ]|ais!tl of itihc-i Nalpwleonis. At ite j very least, the sacrifioe, of- the Wesit;- \ em demacraciies has immensely im-1 pa'Oived the out Hook for a. losting; peace j in the Old World j and has alsof p'oiinted tiie pith of duty for nations I in the Pacdfic, wherei— as e^erywhei'e! —'aiutoci'atici designs ■will bo curbed :! only by the resolufe will of demo- \ cvraciy to defend itself in tho most | effective miaiimer and* to perpetuate \ itisi own existemioe.-" |

DEMOCRATIC UNITY AND FOCIL I

The' story of deanocaiaoy'is aibiLity 3 to defend itself, and' to take wp the \ traip pings of militarism- in order to| orusib tin.© soul thereof, does not end

with the adoption on' conipulsion. Thei^ was u'li-otihcir goal t-j! sittfiJn,—unity of ini'Jii.'ic:y ojanniaind un. liuo WfiS'i-om fi-o'Uit. Dein.'.vjra.oy, ahviiy:* ffiari'uil of ©xtreane iii;diiviidu,a,i powea , and joalous of foreign, ooiilvol of v lii'.'.'iuiin:.'! !.i.rii] ; y, io;r o-jinu ihnx M[,uot,l hesitant, and the heG'iiatiloii w.-s piiVjilci.ig!ei;l by inf;litia-ry jortlf^.Kiioiy. Ea:;iy pt'ircefiving tli.G oxdreaue danger of separate cainaii';;n,dsi as-aiinKt tlio Gea--miiui cicncentraUon of 1917-18, Mr Lloyd Gooirge gropC'd Oij.t aftei- usuity of coQitnol; was eibooiUirag'ed in Pa.risi, was i-esistrod in. London; pleaded, teni-pur^cd. ca.moufla.2ed, n.'xl ' exhausted his joscnii'ces a& a,. "politicail strateg^-t." At bust -th® di^a-iror ;.f the British Fifth. Arvox came. tr.< his

j reficnra; liia a^'pru-uvcinihs were rein.l'^rcoii j by the Gwrixu-j sword, and tlio few

"We-jiarn All;es found themselves. o;Yi:ipelled \o pni-;il flicir fo.roe«i. frnnv. the North Sea. to the Adriatic, uin-lcr the. J ]!c-iaivein,-s,G-;'.it g^nais % Gencral>S!>nno Focih. Pi-oii(ie:iit Wiboia led the way by .siiikin.gi fuiso Tiu.tibij,ail pride, by .b<riga.J.ing- the Ainerio..'-!n uindlis, AviiWa Fre«cili aii'd Br'ltihdi clvviw^oufi', umd: by ]?uW,;2)g tlio fu,i] fccvie. of .tills Uuiitod States behind the deaiiand .ton' a lUH'od eciitii'oil bif tlio ai-nnies amd their resei-ves. Tlm^ tili-3< rmiLitary jealopsiiew wai"e br<rkon. down,, .r;;nd k; was tihen, -found thru tho pj&c^les, tkui thew' nuiiatoi^, Avea-e qu^e rec-Uly fo«- ;l r'adiicin,! ti la.a»fo.rni«,t.-'cii. .. sucih. ' as. tibe sitiiiMit.iom. deimtMicled- iCoan.iriiCirirsnn.se triumphed oivar coinveijiti-ouni, a,ncl dieimioicrncy <rwe the mw& pranf , o ,f ,f( s fi«,ca'if].oiti4T ciaipaai'by to. adapt itself to »u<pire<inei necessitiy. Mr Lloyd Geioige «iti dniiaw all' tT'edlitl fmr liawmg 'foreseen, tihe nieed of miiiite.iy unioai. It. is easy to say tiliuit his. f&rieisiigiliti pr-oiveid gireater. thai™ lins! ooawai<?e, bait ca'itrlos sliomi'd always, remeaniber -tihe limntat.ions oif his politiicnil .siituaitiiom,- Those 1 saime limitpit'icnss were pnii'tly ■ ir-ospoinsiblei for iiht^fa.cib that th© English-apea.kin^ • leadeirshSp. tiemded toi pass fnom him to Pi'fsiidenlt. Wilsoai. Aftea 1 Russiai's c^o«iiT!e., isuicih. a tic.Tideiii,cy mi glib •niaitua-'- ---• ally result fr'oan, the wec-twai'd swi:nc; of tihe Allka' 'CWP.itivei .od' -.amantty, and fi^oan the Ainidriciiiii Go'veii'innemit.'s ji'eeidom h'-am ciinlya.n-a^si'ng disploinatic ii.n-dea i{'a.k.'iai.»|s belonging to the. era. of Eussiiaa: Tzairistiic anvbitiion. Moro&vei"; the Am,en*ician President is-, oicnstitutiorially, miight'iea." thr ; m amy

Pi'irne Minisiler. Neveirthelcss. eivili-

aaitiiom. owes miaxSii tioi L'teyd (Te-nn-'o-e, the "politlicnil lsdr'aittepisib," a.nd to the "tifvtsr" ;>o]:i 4liciiani of Frantee, Grand Old M?.ai Clemexicoaii.

OUT 'OF EVIL COMETH GOOD

] liii the politician hiisiboiy of the war, the .United Stagey PrttiideiUiliaL election of 1915, the Kussi-a'ai lieivalutioin 6i?. 1917, amd the' riithleisis siUibania.riiiir'g 1, are ooaiispociaoiuts 1 laindrimpJcs. Withiout. knoiwiing w.hait. they were doling, Tirpiitz, tihe fvditoai'ii.t.ic tern-w----ist of th© sea, amd Lenihi., the h.-igli pi'iesfc of Bo'lshevdk ainaa'-cihy, ware building' for deimcor'aey. , 'SiimiiJa-rly, the G&rmaai peacie drivekS, though d'e>si glued to pinivo Pi"iis>iaai miiliitaa-isan.,. in<TOily held the iSitin^'o till itls ruin was ecrnipleite. Until October last 'il»e Grermuxi Goiveimmenk still sta-ov© to re-i .tain Eastern .jrannisl ftti (-he ooisfc otf Western siurl"enhder's, whem, sarddein-ly thei Bulg:a,ri;'mi ■F.eiL'iew.ioin. br-olce tihe idea of Mititt'il-Euii'oipin. ml twaiin-. /In a raioimenifc the Eas'teim 'ktasot was cant!, and the Gen'miami ot:: d> o« S-uisi?k\i, witlioiUft, the neod of any E.i'.'r-o(peniii intein reii:tioaa by Japart, ffave wa;y. The cloising stla.a^s of the Avar i-'a-o^cd yofc H'nif'.iiTii 'tih« futility of eivdl *ira-chi-iiaitiiontei in the face -of a, Hipjlien* Power 1; and the lumlteraMe- hi-n.t.li tilxatt omti of civil oonneitih. a-ood. Amionff

many builders, few knew tho work! he was engaged om>; yet -the labours of all, giofod or evil, have been turned to die service of hu'inainity, Froaii' tha Ibd'egoi-ug! discus*ion, oi 1 prkiciipleis, wo pass t-oi a review of rhe, w in grosiitea* deta.il, with, ss fai* as possible, a, clm'oxi'ological sluvey of the wants of the. five iaicl'u): yeara, 1914-18. 19H—THE '-'SHORT CUT" THAT ' MISSED. When the real history of the war ciomesi lio bei written, it. will- psrobaibly hanre ' .tier, be admitted, that Genniaavy ■very nearly won, in the fii'Siti roai'ad, by her rapid :kn©ak-ouib blow at France, , which failed) only because of an exceipiipmal cioinbm'aitiion.- of adverse carcuinyitiaincies. Given .its beat luck, fthe Gei'maiiii maircVi tihirough Betgiium i shcul'd liii.v© overwhelmed Fraaiea in two iiiiOiiith& ; at tlio 'least 1, it should 'have secuii'teid fw 1 Gennaai/y ili& Chaaiuel (por'iis doiAVE, to 'i'he nionaiii oif the Soirmie; but it did neithei*- Fa-awes wais saved, in the first place, by French ocuii-ago n-nd skill, cuilmiinathig, ii\ the Butflei oif the Maa-ne, added by tilio Britiisli ailliamc© and its. inoirn.l I'aaid. iniatoa-ial oxpa-essioii., the Br.itish Regiiiaa- Army. But the 'sa^mrg 1 of Frainos was very subsHantially oo'n- ' ta'ibuted to by Beilg-hmi., and by the iinoxp'eciteltlly rapid' moibalisiaition of Tsia.r'i.sit'io Ruissia, who eia.rly in 1914 had worn aiincl lost tremendous batfiie® ag-fl.i.nst. the Gcitmia.nis and the Auii.l'ir'O'-Huiiiig-ia.rii'ausi. llmssiiaai victories .and defeaits helped the vicitior's of tihe Marne' to. save Paris, and aiided tike vicitioais of the Fatnsb Ypires an, the high ■strat-egio aoooimipiLi'sihiMent' oif pa-otecit-ing, the. Ghaunel poa-ts; Blood sihad libea-'aUy by Russia, ?is; 'weil as by France and Britain., foirtied thoi Geririiams .to be tfo'nteint. with setftling doiwn in the West to a rigid) iSYaaoaBeigiiain; tP.':einch-llme!. .Tlliey \re!balSated with, a laiud blocikadei of Russiia, to encioa.iilpia.SiSi which tlueyi forced Tun-key into the wai* in Noveimibeir, anid ait the sainie time accepted, having little choiice, the mavai blockade- imposed by Britaiin. Tli'nHj was how tunings stood aife the ciltoise of 1914.

Peirsi.siteince' ml tfe blocikade '•oi" Russia w'agi ultiimialtiei'ry oin© of the essential' elenientbs TvJuicih forced the Rusj»Siiains' cunt, of thei 'war, amd which thus iplaoad France (in 1918) in m posStio:ii of tennipioij-iany pien"il. But. inmisteit'ly 'as (tlhu'is r'feipar'limerit of Geinnan sta-aitegty. pa'ovQcE later on: to be, nio*hiaiG! ciould ooaxipeinsaitle foi' the ,gi"e«.t initdal mism^jciuilaiWbm!—the wrecfeiing ■of tihe pikuni ba •oivea'tihjr'oiw* France with onisi swiift blcnv.

1915—GFJRMANY LOOKS EAST.

. Dsfeait dii' tiho W# m'efraiit mticih more thivih faiilu'i'ei .tioi deistroj Fraiace and ti:e 'Fi-eiccli Army. It meaait also faiilua-e to preheat Framcb frtiau becoirwiigi tiie .loattle-grbiund of new British airmies,, and .possibly kii, the-future of.-new xlmea-ioan. Armies. The surprise blow o'i' 1514: halving- mis-car-ried, it beKScia-n© at oinc© tihe -biisffiniess ■oif Goniiaai ,stra,teig:iste to preven't 1, by land amd bny sea, Anglo-American ro-iaifoa'oe-ineint of Framce. O*.vin.g; to tlio etclipsc^aiud blockade of the Germain Higih Sea. F leeiti, noi pretvemtiv© meaas preiseaitiecl i^jself aib sea'until tli© la,teir aevelopmerot 5 of tihe &U:bmairine; and; the i-iOissibiiUitiieisi of a further big offensive against. Fr'sinc© by land were discioumbf'd' by the pressure of Russia. Coa"i!sectu£in.tily, tihe year 19.15 found t,<he Gennaaxs witiii their 1 eyes' mainly itemed' oaistiwaa'd ; alsoi south- j pastiwe^dl, -where the Fraaaico-Bribish Galliipoli army was sitiriviog' to pierce Eiwopeiaai Tuirkey a*nd raise the partial blo'cfeajda of Rmssiiai.

A- series of Ausitiroi-GeaTnam defeats inflicted by tihe Russians earlier in tlie> veair terminated, fit tihe Duneujcc, whiatre, iin April-May. G-eTmiaaiy tim-ned the tables, mud -Ruists -ia. lost Poknd amid Weist'eni G-alic.ia.-i Foa-fciiinaifcoly, Russia's disaster did not. iprevcat Italy oiltc-irin;^ iilie wan ■ oa 23rd Ai;'-y, 1915, tlio'iia'li. tit a c clsiib raiised by

tihoiti .event avji-s dilirtt 'd by Russians <.'ioi!i:fjixiiirc.d . rups&Titmiue aaid by the Allies' .poor progress oin . the Galli];jLl Peirtkisriikt. Worse atill, these u'nfavouira,b!e 'ek-iTn;ei!!ifa weii'e I* "?i;ng observed and a.pp.r:',isecl by Birlgat -la.. The B!i,I----gaiiii'ainis sfliw tiiat excellt 2dit. as the Gallip'O'la .strategy ■ wms, .tlie fa-xo® employed would i3ti.il to j peneitvateTWkey amd liberai© Riu'sia^: iilioy saw that tilioisi© f(>rces wore wromp'ly placed tb help JBuilgftiviac's ont'.ny, Sen-'bia.: tihey kn'emr .of tlie» -bveacilisry i"o 'Serbia,' of the Greek "Kiiig, ««d ih&y recognised ' Mi© d.issi£ 1-i"\ rice to Serbia of tlie 'Entente's dilatory Bailkaui: p'olioy. Kulgniria •.thert <f"i'.'e jo-ined tihyi Centrr'al Poweifs hi O;-.ri> ber, 1915, a.bo-u &\ a, ooTi,pfo oif incnii.hs b'&fo-;;o Britain: m.nd FraatcV' bet'niiv to witlidira.w from. Gallijpoli- Tims" Buil--Jrairia ciramplet for tlie oneony the Eastern "cca"> -idcr," and siaaled the fat© of Serbia -i,, whloi had tlwiee tli.roiwn out the Auf jtro'-HungiaiTiiians, but was O'VerwheiLrrae d by the new ooinibiiinibioii in. Octoiber 1 -Noiveniiber. Ajoticipaitong' their fatili jh-© An GaEifpoli, and feMni_(y tliait ■ they .shiauld' ait leiaeti hold Greece, t jhe Allies 3iad seo\n ved a

i THF RATTT F OF THP NATIONS VPAP RV vpad ®: I From Mons to Moos with "The Contemptible Little Army/ ' ' ' 55 ' •■ ■ ' « *xS XXVXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXoXXXXXKXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXKXXXX^XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXKXXXXXXXKXXXKXXXXXXXXXX XX

new Balkan foothold a,t Salonika, '■'teoi late" to pave Seo'bia.

'J'lig. mekincholy roc-wd of 1915 ensba'acecl the taxnoh war in Franice, | including the Second Ypres, tho ;Jiuss.iaai disaslor; the Gaillipah .and Snlomikin. failures; indecisive Austa-o-Italiau fighting-; c generally passiv;l. defoiK'.e in Egypt; in Mesapotamm. | a recklessi oft'ensrve XTowaishend'.s) i doomed ta disastetr. Final disa.pperwv.nos c:f tho GonmaiTii flag, from the oceanra was tho brigihti spot, tinned with Ton-era-sibs .oif the euibmarhio phase. Save in East Africa all Germa.n colonial i-esistniftco was extinguished.

1916—VERDUN, THE U-BOATS, JUTLAND, RUMANIA,, In 1916 Russia's reverses —though relieved towards the close of the yeiaa* by a s^cce^sful reacitioini against AinsitivkvlTiiin-giaivy—iparmitted the Govmainis to oii'Oe nioiro attempt a. greait offensive against France, where tihe Verdun- operation •was- bagim ais early ! a,s 20th February. Verdun was a,. Qevmsm defeat, rnnikinigj mor'ailly. witili « the Ma.raio, for it proved that tilxo lo'iiig-siift'eirinlgt, and "Boloiised" French • ciowld niOtb© teiruwjised Ofiuti oif .the war. But the :ir&w British iairmy's ©il'ensiveig in this year 1 weire 1 dlLsafipCHinitiiaxgin resMt, amd the snibmarine shikinlgi* bagiani) to gliiV© the war at seai aw um^ f;w;oiU!r'a,ble turn foa*' sea-cas'.r'ja.g'e and for 1 Britnisili dinisnilar power. Im May of 191G Gea*miainy was eivtew eni'btildanied to bid foil* searsiupa-'eimiac'V, th© reisuMi was tilio 1 in decisive--Battle of Juitlaiid, Slsfc M«,y, wibicih. did nab altea" the .pu'e-existing" maivifil-' si'twaition 1. ; By Aipaiil Rinsisia had ca^urea Eii'zeir'oaiani amid Trebiaomid, and had o'ciompiied moisiti of Tmidish Armciua ; ibuito thh' tiiciliiievo/mieinib war* offset by ■ Tlmvwiafieind'isi S'lia^eandea' 1. Egypt's ' do(feaiciei begiaai-to bei offensive in Ma.y> J1916, giivd-ng; tihfii "Westeraers" new [gir-caiaid fcii* caiiitdciifiimi of "side' shows" jjamd divar'sioms. Ssuloiniika -was stag-" I n-d\ii\t, tli© oocaijjDfwbioni • being' at th«ifc tiitoe'/piresiaiiitied in ai politiica-l rather' tihaitt ai m&itairy Igiht. It played no active .pirtint, am tiiie traigfedy of Rumania, who 1 Avais proibiaibly betrayed by the Sjtaiaimar (TOiveii'iianemitl of Russia.. The^slmwvn&m ■ a£ .the Rurnajiia.n Tiqboiy omibileid tdiei German sword to ;piick, up nrnicih of the pi'ositiige it had dropped eariier iai the yea,r at Yea-dun,-' But lB).e greialt! ovemifc of 1916 was '/political: Prosident WHson- -wm ' re-elerateid, , aaid liwthlesis subnuaa-iniug* ('initiated 1 sib February) began to ' drlaiw itilicj Unlilitd Stialtiasi'dntoi the wa*r '• 1917—-EXIT RUSSIA, ENTER AMERICA. laii 1917 usiuibaniarin© skiUaiiigis readied tiheiia- inoinilMy sudnaniib in, April, buib. Garainainy ipu,id for 'tOieatn a,n altoglotlieii' ■.di^pivoipioa-tiio.Batie pamae', since iihe Uniiitisd Siliaiteis deolaa'ed waa- oai Gtk April, 1917. The other greiait uvenlb w'ai«i till© Russian rewlutioai!, a.t lii'sb Libca'ail, thmi Libeaiaa-Sooialist, tlhemi Bolshejviik, and leading, 'rapidly bj. Russia's mliitaay ooJlaps©. Th© i."c- . plaioeniieniti of the, Slav by tihe Anieu'i-J cam, tilie Tzair .-by itihiei Piresidemtti, r&- " roliutionlisieid tho wtool© :piolitioal and Dj/aiiteny meafniinii-ri of the: wn.r, yvlikh [beciaanie iniOT'o ■tili/uim civer a fight be- | tw'oeux' Weisiteini, .sec^-piofweir and Can.jtiLnbiriitial lomdipfiiwier. Om the Al;llie»' wido deraoca^tiio idtn,!s finiailiy replaioed •senreit, tr'eaitieis ajid^.polliiltiioal batt-giaa'mßi. Sk ■"Dicu.g'kisi .llaiiLr's numericol adva:irti:i.«» in tlbe U Tesf"ii .produced ' 310 % iTiiilitnny resmltr-;—deisipitb 'costly ollfcMisivos—aind s-nmw-i tto have, been cancelled on- rtducrxl us .tihe Russinin collaips© r'eileaisivl G-on-aiTaail traops. It, v.-iiis mow ovjideirib tilv-i^, the Allie^.tsoaild )Mb h& ■ sam"e oif ;;. miiMit"iairy decdsiiom withbut tth® aiid of ga'eaiti imea-ioaiii amnies. While) IMg gained little oa* noitihiikHw excepitl -aitltiiiiitnlvtei effeciti 011 !t3ie bessti pei'somaiel of ihe German, aimiiy. IMy stiffeireid. a eoioisisal defeaib. Thus this enlemy. closed 1917 Watli.ai bril-

liaSnt vficttiofry ofver the Ibalia-ns in Btooniewhaiti tiha winei way a® lie saived his jprestii^ia in 1916 aiti tiie exponse of tihe Rumiainiilains. Russdiai ;ainjd' .Rumiamiia and 'Sea^bia (exoepiti the remmlainitl of Sea^biai's army) halving ipiracitdcailly di'oipped out, no Allied oiffemsive imi tlie Balltans! was roasioinably passaHe witihouti Gll^3ek sympatihy and aid. Vctnizelos luad been busnly paviingl the way for 1 at GrecoEntenito co-otpeirtiitlion, and a siteipl foxwoa\l was "ttakeni by moans, of Cotnstamit'iine's aibdiciaitaom! in 1 June- The Entente armies in Maoedomia,-Albainiia bided tiheir tiimio.

Paleatiime aiftd MeGiop9it«ir);ia beoanuei, •once, agjiiia, tiheeuta'esi of' IBritdsih offensive oipenaitttoais, oaiTieid on despite till© fadliaig: grdip of Russia ■diic Aimeriia. and Pea-sia. Tlie M of .'Bagdad .(lOtih Mardi) and Jeausalem (10th Decent beit) Avas of gtreafc impoaitiaiice rdligiously, poilitlioaily, and miilitai-ily. Thuis ttlxe aidivociaiteis of Ara.rfaire iii, saibwcdiinate itHieaiicesi hiriid' <"it laMi "some 'natx* iraiteiikiiani witiv, ; to retorn, 'tihe fii'o of tihe' ■ "Westteimeir's." But • tihe podnitt of yiertv cf itilxe. "-Westeraeiiis''" was qwiiti© ■umdett'Sitiaindaible 1, ooaisidernntg 1 thei teim)po!rairy| (Kina^eiadinessi off ■Ameiiiciai tb fill the giapl left by Russia, amd tb poour troops as well as irwuniitioins imito fill©' West.,

1918 ■■— ■ GEiRMAN EFFORT TO FORESTALL THE AMERICANSThe a'ace with tfe Americans for Paris was the 'keyn'oife of -Germain policy rim.' 191 S. atetiained from gtivdnigi. any substiattitiial aiid to the h'aa'd-rpresised Turk m- to. Bulgaria ; she diid iiioiti try to pxish the Salcinika fore© into 'tfe seal; she did not realise all tlhei miiliitairy 'advanfcageis she mnighit hiatve ronlised M: Rtissda amidl FiiTikittd. Insteaid of doing: thes'er rtihiingis, 1. Miio aiiined fio destroy tihe Allies' Westertni wn'inies befoa'e Amea' ldcia's att"i4viail. Hence Geraniany'is O'ffe*nsn've (mi five iphiaises) dm Fnance wn<i Anista'ia-Hungiafiy'si one-plias'ei of femisire mi Itoly. ■ AiiKfa&i-Hxiu^iaa'yV defeiait. and the Allies' suecessifui 110----"acitioin, in 't!h,& fifth: p'hflse of tJae Geii'aitan operaitiiiofn,s in. France (ai reaotiion admiitfedly dxie to thei aiacieilea'atioin, «pif Amieiniciaai reiinfoi'daHjeinfe) ctjios smioir© swung 1 ;tihei ioddsi r aglainisiti the Cemltfrail' Pmreir's. rGefinainy's iseoooid ■ niisf oi-ibuine' on; the Mcirnie ' was ipn'ioibaMy . the tpmiimtrpoiimlb of the "wiur. '• ■

Iti was followed, otf ; course, by a series' iotf defeate infiiotod in Fo'ch's best ■ stylo. . .Haivin^ 1 regained the .roi■tiaiive, tlixo Generajbissiim© made a. masterly tie© thereof.' And he won ItiisWesiteimi victories.' without roibbinig' tibe Eastern aimiiies., In facifc, during 1 1918 tho AHiies d'eltadhed trabips to "help Jaipami'. to. a.id tiliei Czecihioi-Sloivaliisi acoin&t Bolshevik- 'Gdnnaxi ..farces bs-

rtrweem the Pacrliici ■ Cotistl and I^nilce Baikcl; ; and tlieiy opened up nsw ■fronitis in Noritb. Ruissia, and on eitflxer sido of'-ithe Casipaan Sea.. Moireoivea'', ihe British, ■ forces ' iiru Palestiim© wan one •oif the .iamb cilaiSSM:t ftind coampletie battles of «!! armig tiiiaifc. histeay records; dfitsitroiyed, tlliree TVirkish aa"mdesi, (amid' conqueired; Syi"ia. The c^ofwuid'ng .p'oiniti of Easitieim! ptolitio&Tmiiiliirtiaay suteciss came an 1 Octoibeif, •whem: d'Esper'ey's Affiedi army basedl om Salcmaka., ba-'oike the Bulgariaais frooiitanid divided thei B[u!lg'aa"la.i!ain. foTcesi. whosie' right wiragi wag placed aiti tih© meti"cy oif tibia and Freihch. Bedcoa'e this sud'deini aud asitlon'ish.iMg ■\notbay was dlriveini hlomi© in, a maili'tSanry- way, Bnigatraai siiafemtdered to. the Alleis, thuis ba'eiaikiiag' the &a&mj "oomid'oir," uracioivieiriilng: TWkey aaid A.instaia'.-Hu'nlgjaii-y, amd setibimg thosie '■♦Sitaites ami etxaim)ple •which they were noltl very silorw -to fcilow- By ithiat i-e----miaiiifcaible deiVelopimientfa the Sailomika, p-tti-ategiy was at lasitl Yindtoaitied, and the Geii'iniafni WesiteTtoea-s fell 'iiwto their ■oiwni fttr-a.jp>." The : fanlxwe of their piolicy ■ol Westtertu ooii'Cieinitraitiio'n; was threefokl: (1) they failed t» pr'ciSea"Ve tJiecr■.Weßitemni front; (2 1). failed! to cnrusfo Fcich! 'beforei the Amieaiiciain: ajwivail; and! (3) even. 1 .foiled tb hiold the Westerni posiitiiioth: whiich they h!ad amih'eai'L:tctrl froim'l9lT. Aifer losiitrnw 1 tioi Fo'di thioaifiaini(fe of -^mis, him'drerk of thbaisainds oif .prisomeais, a.nd • miilliomsi .of oasumMJios, Geirnna.ny was ■nmofficiiailly reiportDd to hiave sicu'ed a, sun-reind'er arTO.isticei o;n Thur'sda.y," the 7th Ncv'eimibei*.