Peace Terms

Peace Terms

By Dr. Joseph M. Tanner

It will be noted that President Wilson is disposed to be somewhat more

generous in his peace terms than either Great Britain or France. Since

America entered the war, the President has been the leading spoksman in

what the demands of the Allies will be around the table of the peace con-

ference in case of an Allied victory. This leadership has been generally

accepted by the Entente of Europe, as the importance of .he United States

at this stage of the war is fully recognized. Should the United States be

recognized as the foremost expositor of peace terms? This country enters

the war at the crucial hour, and may become the decisive factor. That our

task will ever equal that of England or France in the war's burdens is not

likely. If so, may we not defer to their decision in what ought to be done

in case of victory? Germany's immediate neighbors must live next door to

her and bear the brunt of German aggression which will be perhaps as in-

sistent after the war as it was before. Their danger will be direct, ours indi-

rect. No one who realizes what Germany is now doing need doubt that she

is already preparing for another war, a war in which she expects to avoid

the mistakes she made in this.

A brief survey of the situation shows that the Teutons have been pur-

suing a policy looking to another war as soon as they can shape themselves,

and before her enemies will have time to recover from the German policy

of absolute destruction. Germany is waging war in the domains of her en-

emies. Against England she is seeking as completely the destruction of

England's supremacy upon the seas as she can. The submarine warfare has

a double purpose. It is first the destruction of food and other supplies;

and, second, it is the destruction of England's future upon the seas. In the

case of Belgium it is the complete paralysis of that country commercially

and in man power. In Serbia it is practical annihilation. In France it is

the complete destruction of northern France and the inability of that coun-

try to recover for a generation after Germany is on her feet ready for an-

other, and to her mind, a sucessful war. As much of Italy is to be laid

waste as possible.

Germany does not hope to win out now. She is too smart to indulge

in any such delusions. She knows that all odds are against her, and is

not fighting for present victory. The Teutons know full well that the con-

tinuation of the present struggle means greater damage to the future powers

of her enemies than to them, and know, too, their ability to recover in man

power is greater than that of their enemies.

As soon as Germany has wrought all the havoc possible to make the

future tell in her favor, she will be ready to strike hands with her enemies

on almost any terms of peace they may consider a minimum. Then she will

be good, so good that her humility will be almost unendurable. The nations

across the seas understand this better than we do. With them the terms

of peace must look to an enforced future safety. Otherwise this war will

have been fought in vain. Europe should not be placed under German dom-

ination before Teuton aggression will be brought home to us. It is, there-

fore, our duty to see to it that Europe must be made safe for our Allies, and

they are really best qualified to determine what that safety is.

We are mistaken if we suppose that a democracy in Germany will de-

stroy there the military inheritance and education of its people. It is a

martial spirit against which the world must be protected more than against

militarism. We are thinking rather of effects than causes. If the martial

spirit is not broken, the military effects of it will soon appear again. More-

over, suffering and material losses are much more quickly forgotten among

Germans than among any other people in Europe. They are trained to

endure and glorify their sufferings.

People who vainly imagine that Germany will be ready for an indefinite

peace when this war is over do not understand the mental make-up of that

country. They don't feel and think as we do. The discipline of severe

punishment is fundamental with them, and a peace without punishment will

neither he understood nor appreciated by them. Furthermore a peace with-

out punishment will mean victory to them. It is our duty to help Europe

to win, but when once we have won, we should see to it that Europe as

well as democracy is made safe for the world. Germany is now planning

U make England, France, Italy, and Russia dependent commercially upon

that country. If war env^ in such a way as to leave Germany commer-

cially supreme, the Teutons will strike again soon for territorial ag-

grandizement.

Copyright, Underwood & Underzvood, New York

Damascus. — Now that Jerusalem has fallen to the British forces, the

next objective in the advance through the Holy Land will undoubtedly be

Damascus, in a drive that will have for its ultimate objective Aleppo.

Aleppo is astride the main line of the Bagdad railway and its capture by

the British would cut Turkey off from most of Asia Minor and all of Meso-

potamia. It would also prevent a German advance on Bagdad by menacing

the Teuton rear and base of operations. In advancing on Aleppo, Damascus

would be probably the first city to fall to the British coming up from

Jerusalem, for it lies on the main line of advance. From Damascus there

is a railroad to Beirut, and that city too would naturally be an objective of

the British forces approaching from Jerusalem. This wonderful photograph

shows the most noted part of the city of Damascus, the street called Straight.

It can be seen starting in the right foreground of the photo, beneath the

long, arched roof, one of the widest streets in the city, extending across it

from east to west, roofed over nearly all the way. Dotting the city can

be seen the minarets from which the Muezzin four times daily call forth

the faithful Moslems for their devotions.