218 THE TREND OF THE RACE 
Teutonic and Slavic from the Latin races are hereditary racial 
characteristics, although they may be modified to a certain degree 
by social environment. It may be maintained that conflicts will 
still be more apt to be won by nations of the highest endowment 
of intellect, and which by nature are best endowed with the 
instincts which make for loyalty and coéperation. But granting 
that this tendency exists, there are so many factors that modify 
its influence that its actual biological effect is much in doubt. 
In the first place we must bear in mind that mere size is not 
infrequently the determining cause of victory quite regardless 
of the quality of the combatants. Fortunate alliances may bring 
success to an otherwise weak country. Geographical location 
often proves to be of importance in both offensive and defensive 
warfare. But of especial significance is a nation’s cultural devel- 
opment which depends upon its past history and surroundings 
perhaps even more than the natural aptitudes of its people. 
The Teutonic tribes fled before the well-drilled and equipped 
armies of the Romans, not because they were inferior either in 
mental or physical inheritance, but because they had lived outside 
of the main stream of European civilization, and when we observe 
the Serbians and Russians unable to cope with the well-organized 
and disciplined armies of Germany there is little ground for 
attributing the outcome to the innate superiority of the victors. 
The immediate causes of success were superior discipline, organi- 
zation, equipment and the elaborate, scientific and detailed prep- 
aration for a long premeditated contingency. While we may 
admit that on the average and in the long run the success of a 
nation may be the result of superior hereditary endowments, it is 
probable that, as Schallmayer, Steinmetz and others have pointed 
out, the réle of hereditary differences becomes less as civilization 
advances. 
Granting that war is most apt to be won by the best stocks, 
its biological value depends upon the advantage that is taken of 
the victory. If winning a war does not lead to a greater expansion 
of the victorious people its racial value is nullified. Asa result of 
warfare in recent times nations frequently lose territory, pay 
