d repay Germany for all
the losses of the war.

Would it not seem extraordinary if the language of business and
commerce of the United States were French? But to-day in Russia
and for years back the language of commercial business intercourse
has been German. A great beginning, a great foundation it is for
the eventual control, not only of the business, but the political
structure of Russia. If the Germans at war with Russia have been
able to split, revolutionise and divide it and put their
representatives in control, what will they not be able to
accomplish when peace shall bring them full liberty to circulate
freely in that rich but ignorant country.

In the end, all classes in Russia will demand a strong
government, and if no military dictator, no Russian Napoleon has
taken in his hands the reins of government, then the German
Kaiser will stand by ready to whisper to the torn people of
Russia, as Napoleon III did to the French, "My Empire is Peace!"

But even if Germany evacuates France and restores the complete
independence of Belgium, even if no territories are gained to the
East, or protectorates or independent states carved from the body
of Russia to be a later prey of Germany, Germany will have
won--if from Bremen to Bagdad German influence or actual German
rule is predominant in Middle Europe, the Great Central State,
where the cotton of Mesopotamia, and the coal and iron of
Westphalia, the copper of Servia, the oil and grain of Roumania
all will contribute to the manufacturer of Germany, who, in turn,
will sell his goods in that vast territory. And best of all in
autocratic view, the man power of the Central Empires will be so
increased that at a propitious moment, in a characteristic sudden
assault, the armies of the Central Empires will invade and
conquer Palestine, Egypt and India, and take what they will in
Africa and Asia, while British, Japanese, and American and French
navies impotently rage in useless control of the high seas.

CHAPTER XV

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY--THE KAISER'S VASSAL STATE

Few people in America perhaps realise how completely
Austria-Hungary is under the domination of Germany and Kaiserism.
There are those who think that the hand of the Vienna Government
was forced by Berlin when the ultimatum to Serbia was answered so
reasonably by the little country to the south, but there can be
no doubt that Austria has been ever since under the yoke of the
German General Staff.

And be