WHEN WILL THE WAR END?

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 319, 25 October 1915, Page 7

WHEN WILL THE WAR END?

“Basing your calculations on the progress of the Allied Armies at the end of the first year of war, and bearing in mind the expenditure and present financial conditions of belligerents, how long, in your judgment, is the war likely to last?” Such was th° ques tion which the “New York American” j recently put to a number of eminent ] soldiers, authors, and economists. Here is a selection from their replies: Sir Robert L. Borden.—lt will end when the Allies are victorious. Lord Sydenham.—A second full year ■ appears economically impossible, and unless some unforeseen event occurs the end may come in the late autumn or early spring. Lord Swaythling. —My opinion is that whatever effect economic conditions may have on the duration of the war, financial conditions cannot affect it, except indirectly by its influence on tjhe minds of the people themselves. Sir George Reid.—The end of the fighting can only be sensibly guessed at bjy experts who know as much as a first-class encyclopaedia. If forced to guess, I would say the war would begin to end about a year hence. Mr G. K. Chesterton.. —As a probability, T should guess the war would end some time next year, I think I can promise you it wid end in one way if it lasts till the Day of Judgment.

Sir Gilbert Parker—l incline to think the war will last another year or thereabout, but prophecy is a poor business -when paid by results, so I will not attempt to discount my hope for the ready cash of optimism. Mr St. • Loe Strachey. —Though, greatl|y daring, I would predict the end of February for the end of the war, I know it would be much safer to say this time next year.

Mr Jerome K. Jerome. —The war will terminate when one of the bellegerents loses heart. Nothing else will count.

Mi* A. H. Pollen, a distinguished naval expert.—At the end of the first year the strength of the Allies is something better than five to the four of the Germanic Powers. Before Christmas it will be six to four. By march, 1.916. it will be seven to four. By June

't will be eight to four, not only in men, but in guns and munitions also. Before or as soon as the ratio of two to one is reached the end of the war should come.