CHAPTER XIX
RUSSIA AND GERMANY
I
PEACE still seems far off. In the words of the King's message: "The end is not even in sight." We do not know when it will come or how it will come, but we do know that the settlement will largely depend on Russia. Russia is to-day for the Kaiser the most formidable enemy on land as she was the most formidable enemy for Napoleon. Russia can be invaded, but she cannot be conquered. She can be beaten, but no people possess greater recuperative power. The Russian Government have pledged themselves that they shall make no separate peace. There is no reason to believe that, if they can help it, they will break their pledge. But in a world conflagration unexpected catastrophes may always happen and it is the duty of a far-seeing statesman to bring even the unexpected into their calculations. A hundred years ago the
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