WHEN WILL THE WAR END?

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 21 September 1917, Page 3

WHEN WILL THE WAR END?

Dr Andrew White, who preceded Mr Gerard as United States Ambassador to the German Court, ridicules the idea that internal revolution,, rather than a decisive victory by the Allies, may bring about the downfall of the Holienzollern dynasty. "1 deeply regret that war has come to the United States," he said to an filterviewer at Syracuse, N.J., " but I hope we shall do our duty. The future danger here is anarchy. I think. A tendency toward anarchy is observable at present, and many people are becoming impatient of the restraints of a Republican Government. I rejoice at the spirit of our young men. It augurs well for our military organisation. My hope is that after the" war we shall continue to .keep a well-organised army, such as those of Switzerland and France. We have begun the organisation of such an army. In view of the possibility of premeditated attack from abroad and" anarchy at home, we cannot afford to be without a trained citizen force. What anarchy at home means can be seen in the news from Russia. America has been disliked in some European countries because of the Monroe Doctrine. Our example of free government, too. has aroused resentment which may flame into an attack for which we must be prepared.

"Xo one can foresee what may come from this war. But I do not expect a new form, of government in Germany, for the Germans are attached to the RohenKollerns. I doubt -that the Austrians care much foi the Hapsburgs. But Germany has always believed in the Hohenzollerns. Of course, if the war lasts long enough the Grerman people may become disappointed ill their present ruler and demand further reforms. But Ido not look for a republic in Germany. The Germans consider their form of government better than our?. They believe that hostile - nations are on all sides of them and that Germany has bulwark except its army. It will always be a military nation. Germany feels it has not had its share of the good things of the world. It wants what it did not get in the Moroccan matter and in ■South Africa, and what it has beeu deprived of in China. The true wisdom would have been in being honest about its aspirations and in working peacefully to gam a full share of commerce. There is iittle chance of starving Germany into submission, although the people may become so uncomfortable they will want to stop the war. I think the Kaiser was led to believe at the beginning of the war that Great Britain would not interfere because of the Irish trouble. The Kaiser thought a "better time to attack Russia and France would never come again. The Kaiser always showed a friendly feeling toward America until the war."

Military men in the United States view the Russian debacle entirely from a professional viewpoint. They declare that neither the allied armies nor their navies present any prospect of a "knock out" blow to the common enemy; that the war, if pressed to a strict military decision, involving the complete defeat of Germany, must continue at least two years longer, " unless something happens somewherer" One of the highest officers of the, American army, who enjoys a nation-wide reputation,' is reputed to have expressed himself after this fashion : " Conditions in Ireland and the labor situation in England axe holding the British Army in Britain. The feeling in Ireland is very bitter, and England does not feel that it would be safe to withdraw from, the country forces that would be available to meet any emergency in Ireland. For the same reason she hesitates to abandon the labor situation to itself, as there is considerable unrest and discontent among the working people. Therefore England has about approached the limitof the troops she can spare for the westem front, which is considerably short of the number necessary to create thai preponderance of force which is essential to the effort of breaking the German lines. In addition to the Irish and labor considerations, England must maintain at home a very powerful force to prevent the possibility of what some persons have predicted—namely, an invasion of England by a German arnry.F ranee, as the world knows, has called to the colors her last man. and this does not mean the last Frenchman in France merely, but the last man available for military service she possesses in every part of the world. There is no lack of war spirit, of marvellous morale in France, and her economic problems ;.re not insoluble. But she must look to the United States or to Italy for troops to help her establish that superiority in strength without which the German Hues cannot be broken. ,

"Russia is not playing out. but Bussia is uiuible to employ now, and probably will not be able to employ for a considerable time any strength proportionate to her resources. Despite contrary reports., the Russian situation from a military viewpoint is not even approaching a crisis."