ng their armies would meet in the heart
of Germany, where Cossacks would parade the streets of Berlin and
Indian lancers and Gurkhas would stroll through the parks of Potsdam.
The German fleet, it was asserted, would be at the bottom of the sea
before it had time to think. When this fond hope was not realized, the
German fleet was to be dug out like a rat of a rat-hole. In their
expectations our enemies saw German industry ruined. Germany was soon
to be paralyzed, nay, would soon be passing away.

Such were the expectations of the enemies, attacking us from all
sides. Germany was drawn into a war of self-defense. Her fight is a
fight for national existence. And to-day how do matters stand?

Have the hopes and plots of our enemies been realized? Has Germany
successfully fought her war of self-defense or has she not?

Excepting one small corner of the Empire, the only enemy soldiers on
German soil are vast numbers of prisoners of war. The war is fought on
enemy soil. Germany and her allies occupy three independent kingdoms.
They hold vast areas of enemy territory in east and west. They hold
these territories firmly and without fear of losing them by force of
arms.

Consider the efforts that our enemies have made on the west front. In
their unsuccessful attempts at Loos and in Champagne last autumn they
suffered terrible losses and made no headway. In the spring Germany
took up the offensive against Verdun. Step by step, and with but small
losses, we are steadily gaining ground; the French positions, although
defended with desperate courage, are crumbling away one by one.

Thanks to the genius of Hindenburg, East Germany is no longer
threatened by Russia. Last year, in cooperation with our valiant
ally, Austria-Hungary, we drove back the Russians, overwhelming their
armies as well as their strongholds. We took possession of Courland,
Lithuania and Poland. For the last two months, it is true, the
Russians have resumed the offensive. But, although they have gained
considerable local advantages at terrible cost, they have not
succeeded in breaking through our lines.

Even at the very moment when our enemies, after months of careful
preparation, seek to bring to bear their greatest possible pressure on
both German fronts they attain nothing but terrible losses. They
achieve but little substantial gain. They have in no material way
deranged our general position on the western front. The tide has
turned again. Our enemies