Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-12-11
news From j1nE =
NATIONAL III M CAPITAL Cal
How the War Is Being Sized Up
and Other Topics Of Nation
"- an al Interest. a ~ .

StlIu navy olAtSC|o ASC 6hui uhi SASA
| utterances in regard to the war with
| the greatest care. 10 get an official
| opinion on the lessons being taught
| or the conduct Of the respective
forces IS impossible. Despite this
the matter OF, greatest interest in mill
tary circles here today is the conflict
in Europe. Naturally private CONVEX
sations ha e not been stopped and
| the general trend Of feeling in the
| army and navy is we'll konWn.
Ties OF blood count for a great deal
and this influences sentiment even in
the army, where the majority is hop
ing for q German victory. To ofiic'
| ers and men the German army has
! been regarded throughout their ex'
| perience as the last word in military
advancement. Most soldiers believe
that a large and highly efficient army
Is the best insurance in which any
nation can invest. In consequence
they favor the policy which Germany
represents in this war. nd :
And what the German army, has
been to our soldiers the British navy
has been to- orr sailors. tSentimen:
in navy circles undoubtedly is with
Great Britain and her allies. .,t,4.
Two years is the maximum est.
mate here for the duration OF the war.
! That it may end very much soOnel
is admitted as possible. All calcu'
latiOns have to take into account the
many uncertain factors which may in
fuance tho results. Just at presen,
the Turks and the Moslems in general
are looked upon as furnishing a very
| uncertain factor. II Turkish pressure
should become sufficiently strong to
cause Russia to withdraw some OF
her troops engaged in the invasion
OF. eastern Germany, then greater
forces could be hurled by Germany
against the allies lines in Belgium,
and France. Determined activity, on
the part of Mohammedan peoples may
prevent England and France IS well
from concentrating all their forces in
Europe. Turkish activity may cause
Italy to join with the allies and may
force some of the Balkan states il..o
the struggle on the opposite side.
II. seems to be the concensus of
opinion among army and navy men
here that the battle line will have to
be carried far into Germany before
the forces of the Kaiser will agree
% peace Oh disadvantageous terms.
They are just as sure that there will
be no giving in ON the part Of the al.
lies until England itself is invaded.
The President continues to hold
the idea that any offer to mediate at
this stage Of the war would be often.
size to all the ~belligerents and would
he productive OF far more harm than
! good. His principal energies are now
directed towards making this country
truly, as we'll as nominally, neutral.
At the State Department during the
past week the. most important q,les.
ton relating to the European war
has to do with American copper. Cot
! ton is now moving to all countries
concerned in the war, but no sooner
were the friends of the leecy. staple
quieted, than the serious question as
to copper developed. The ranks of
cotton protestants, which became SO
well known around the offices Of Sec.
rotary Bryan and Counselor Lansing,
have gone, hut in their places are the
copper men who are just as deter
mined to have their interests looked
after. Copper offers a more serious
problem than cotton, since 1t plays
such an important part in the mani
factnre OF ammunition and war ma
terials. The state department. is try
ing to make arrangements for the en-
portation Of American copper to neu-
trail countries. Before this can be ac-
complished it is evident that England
must be convinced that the greater
part of such shipments do not find
their way to Germany.
Refreshed by their six weeks of
vacation senators and representatives
are reaching Washington by every
train today III readiness to resume
their duties Monday. The Capitol has
been given a thorough o%yerhauling
since the adjournment of the long
session. Tons Of paint have been.
used and every nook and corner has
been frightened up. Practically the
entire drive on thesseast of the build
ing has been covered with new as.
phalt. New curb stones also have
been placed.
Owing to the length of the last SEES.
sion there has been no opportunity to
paint and repair to any great extent
for the past Two years. During the
past few weeks. however, . remark
able amount Of work has been done
by the myriad OF workmen and from;