DURATION OF THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 41, 18 February 1916, Page 2

DURATION OF THE WAR.

"WILL LAST THREE YEARS."

EARL KITCHENER REPEATS

PREDICTION.

On the occasion cf his recent visit to Athens, Earl Kitchener repeated his prediction that the war will last for thTee years, according to a statement made for publication by M. Baluhchics, the Servian Minister to Greece. Earl Kitchener declared, says the Servian diplomatist, that the preparations of the Allies will continue until' end of the second year of war —that is, until August, 1916—and that the third year of war, until the autumn of 1917, will be devoted to crushing the Germans and the Powers connected with them. M. Baluhchics iVled: 'Earl Kitchener talked to me of the Russian Army. In the spring Russia will have under arms no fewer t-han 7,000,000 mt'n. Wait two or three more months and you will see. The Servian Army has lost all its field artillery, but its mountain artillery is intact, and nothing will be wanting in the way of equipment when the moment comes to drive our enemies out of Servia. The Servian nation is heroic and patient. Of all cur enemies the Bulgarians are the most barbarous; they have committed horrible and indescribable atrocities in occupying Servian territory. .

. . . Even if no mistakes had been made by the Allies in dealing with the Balkan situation other pretexts would have been found for 'refusing Greek aid to Servia. We have known for a long tim<3 the intentions of certain influential Greeks whom I prefer not to name. The faults of the Allies do not suffice to explain the refusal of Gre'eco to perform her treaty obligations towards Servia. Great indecision still exists among the' Greek people, and some striking victory in another area of war or the speedy arrival of 300,000 Allied troops in Salonika is necessary Ito impress them. We are still bound to Greece by a treaty of alliance, and I must admit that the Greeks have given jus every support and have provided us with all possible facilities; in short, +hey have done everything except intervening actively in the war on our side.''