WAR NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1917, Page 6

WAR NOTES.

WAR PROSPEOT3. *-- San Francisco, January 30. Having spent seven months with the British Army on the Somme, as the only American war correspondent, Frederick Palmer has returned to New York, believing that the Allies would win. but that the war would 'last three or four years more. Only one possibility couhl he foresee for peace in the autumn of 1017—for Russia to execute some grand coup next summer that would force the Central Powers to accept whatever terms the Allies might agree to give. France, is determined to have a peace won by French courage and efficiency in the field, Mr Palmer said, and not a peace by the grace of Germany. The French would certainly insist upon having Alsace-Lorraine returned to France. The British officers and soldiers will not listen to any persons who suggest peace to them now, and are. confident they can beat the enemy. Apart from that and other conditions, the British intend to' keep the colonies they have captured from Germany. Australia and New Zealand have already emphatically announced this. The Roumanian campaign will play a decisive part in the duration of the war, Mr Palmer said. "At the start the Roumanians ran away with the bait. They would not listen to the advice of the Allied commanders. They wanted Transylvania, and started through the passes to take it, closing their eyes to Bulgaria. . ■, i . Howover, once they were on the retreat, the Roumanians were ready to take advice, and welcomed the French Staff officers who are'in Roumania pitting their skill and an inexperienced army against German staff skill and an experienced army. Tho rest depends upon Russia's ability to arm her numbers and transport them and their supplies and sufficient guns and ammunition. Pessimists thought that Roumania might be beaten by October IS. When she was not they thought that «he surely would be all in by November 1. In mid-No-vember, with Roumania still holding, the conclusion was that the German army had lost its old power of offensive. On the Western front German deterioration was evident.enough, but it was not thought sufficient to interfere with an Eastern campaign."