EUROPE'S DYNASTIC SLAUGHTER HOUSE 69 



a bastioned work of the first class, but that the French burrowing in 

 the ground are holding off the enemy to so great a distance that effective 

 batteries can not be planted. 



For many months the question of food supplies will not be pressing 

 for the Germans. But in time this will bear its part in the final catas- 

 trophe, by adding to the distress that is certain to come. In times of 

 peace the empire is almost — but not quite — self supporting. With war 

 on both — or all — borders forbidding any considerable importation of 

 provisions, the deficit greatly augmented by war's inevitable waste, will 

 result ia scarcity, eventually in localized deprivation or even a degree 

 of actual famine. 



How the end will come, or when it will come, is beyond all human 

 foresight, or possibility of even approximate prediction. That it will 

 come is certain. When at last — in a year, two years, or after many 

 years, after incidents perhaps of horror beyond scrutiny or imagination 

 — when Germany lies prostrate and defenseless, what then will happen ? 



Europe was once before similarly afflicted, similarly desolated. Frora 

 first to last the history of the Parisian revolt against the excesses of the 

 Bourbons, striking — as revolution often does — at the least excessive of 

 them all, is before us. We know the rise of the plebeian, Bonaparte; 

 his good work for French liberty ; his misplaced advancement of French 

 "glory," his futile "militarism," finally crushed by counter-militarism 

 vaster in numbers. After Waterloo (or La Belle Alliance) the vic- 

 torious allies of 1814 dictated at Paris terms that restored a system not 

 a whit an improvement upon the past of Louis XVI., but which yet was 

 compelled to accept or adopt improvements. Even with Napoleon at 

 St. Helena, his work — because it advanced the cause of human freedom 

 — lived and grew; it had life abiding in it. 



This portentous precedent, with many others more remote, are before 

 us. Guided by them alone it would not be difficult to approximate to 

 the onerous and degrading terms which it has been the invariable habit 

 of victory to impose — enormous money compensation, extending to 

 virtual impoverishment, even the enforced elimination of the Hohen- 

 zollerns and the total dismemberment of the empire. That indemnities 

 will be exacted in huge amounts, mortgaging the prosperity of the Ger- 

 manic people for many decades, even generations, is hardly doubtful. 

 The provinces of Alsace and Lorraine will naturally be restored, Eussia 

 will probably acquire whatever additional Slavic territory may seem to 

 her desirable ; and Belgium be recompensed for her loyalty and losses by 

 donations of Luxemburg and of sufficient of Ehenish Prussia most amply 

 to compensate her. That Schleswig and Holstein, filched from Den- 

 mark in 1864, may be restored is highly probable, of course under rigid 

 guarantees of international usage of the Kiel canal, Italy's position is 

 easier to define than her prospects to risk prophesying; to-day neutral 



