The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1914. DURATION OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 103, 24 September 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1914. DURATION OF THE WAR.

How long will tho war last? This is a question frequently asked, bub the ! nearest approach to the answer is naturally mere guesswork. However much we all hope for a speedy termination of the terrible conflict, it is not wise to anticipate that it will end before long. Germany has vast resources of men, food, money and war material, in addition to which she is fighting, if not for supremacy, then for existence as a great Power. Utterly callous of sheading the life-blood of her citizens, she may be relied on to strain every, nerve to overcome the forces of the Allies, or as a last resource, to stubbornly defend her territory. One never knovs what the accident of the moment may bring forth, but in the ordinary course of events it may fairly be assumed that the war will not cease until Berlin itself is threatened, or in the unlikely event of the rout of the Allies. When it is considered that Germany's war expenditure up to the end of last week amounted to the enormous sum of on hundred and twenty-two millions sterling, and her daily outlay is about three millions, it is easy to see that if the war lasts for twelve months longer, as same authorities consider likely, Germany's war bill will hare mounted to over twelve hundred million sterling, while that of the Allies will bo in a corresponding ratio. The question arises as to whether this financial strain can possibly be met, also whether it can possibly be justified? It is for the nations concerned to count the cost, and it must be presumed that they have done so. Speaking in the House of Lords last Friday, Lord Kitchener expressed tho opinion that the war was bound to be a long one, and he outlined tho preparations he was making for keeping the British forces maintained at full strength. In the face of such f,n important pronouncement it would be folly to expect an early termination of the terrific expenditure. It is officially reported that Germany has a sufficient | stock of food wherewith to supply trie army for a year without hiving to import from outside, and if that is true she can face a blockade with equanimity. Her system of storehouses for foodstuffs available for man and beast is y&ty complete in theory, but whether it will I stand the test of practice remains to be seen. So far as food for the army is concerned, great reliance appears to be I placed on the sufficiency and efficiency of the German sausage, made of peameal, bacon, salt and seasoning, compressed into sausages weighing a quarter of a pound, and said to be nutritious, light, wholesome and practically indestructable, it being dissolved in hot water when taken ag food. No doubt it is an extremely handy and portable ration, but still it may not bo found to satisfy requirements. In feeding such an enormous mass of men and horses there must always be a large amount of waste, so that it ig not unlikely that a shortage of food may happen after a while. Another factor in the duration •f the war is Austria. It must not be taken for granted that the crushing defeats suffered by Austria has exhausted either her resources or her determination to go through with her contract if possible. She also ha 3 very large resources to draw upon, and her tenacity, as well as the fact that her very existence is at stake, may cause her to fight in sheer desperation to tho last. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, there appears to be a justification of Lord Kitchener's opinion. The interests at stake are eo vast and vital that a fight to the bitter end seema to be inevitable, and that should mean a lengthy and oostly struggle.