CURRENT HISTORY WORLD EVENTS OF THE MONTH HAVE the events of the month brought the war visibly nearer to an end? Anxious hearts throughout Europe and over the whole earth are asking the question, and some there are who think they see at least a hint of an affirmative answer.

Ribot, the French Minister of Finance, has publicly declared his belief that the end is in sight.

While this is probably too san- guine a statement, recent events have suggested something of the kind.

The failure of Germany to reach any vital spot at Verdun after a month of desperate fighting may not be particu- larly significant, for Verdun is one of the strongest fortresses in the world; but the indication that some inner force or fear in Germany herself was behind the attack, prompting and impelling it re- gardless of the cost in lives, has led many neutral observers to believe that the Berlin Government is no longer sure of its own allies or its own resources, and that there is a waning even of the national enthusiasm which has thus far responded to every call for sacrifice.

Has Germany passed the zenith of her war strength, and is Verdun, like Na- poleons Moscow campaign, to mark the beginning of the slow disintegration of the power behind it? Only time can tell.