WHO WON THE WAR?

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 146, 18 December 1919, Page 2

WHO WON THE WAR?

ALL jCLAIMS CONSIDERED. Some say:—"The facts remain that America won the war," because there can be no doubt whatever that, if the United States had not intervened, the Allies^night have failed to beat Germany. Similarly, it may be said that Belgium won the war, and with far more truth, because, undoubtedly, had Belgium Temained neutral in -1914, the German army would have overrun Northern France, seized the Channel ports, and might have invaded England; Lord Jellicoe has admitted the weakness of the British fleet in 1914. Moreover,, once in England, there being neither guns nor ammunition, for our untrained recruits, tho German troops could easily have occupied London, and some Prussian field marshal might have witnessed from the dome of St. Paul's the sacking of our metropolis by his Pomeranian Grenadiers. Similar arguments might be expanded to demonstrate that the war was won'by Japan, Italy, China, or Portugual! The "facts remain," nevertheless, that, singlo-handed, neither tho United States army nor tho Belgian aroiv could have beaten tho Prussian army, or even have etood up to it more than a low days. After all, history might be rewritten by the aid of a few "ifts." If Marshel Noy had marched straight on Brussels on 15th Juno, 1815, there would not have been a. Battle of Waterloo, and Wellington might have been Napoleon's prisoner. ' If Longstrcet had attacked at Gettysburg there might not have been to-day any° United States of America. „ If my aunt had been born a boy, ane would havo been my uncle.