Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-12-11
COBB AND KITCHENER
Famous Correspondent Interviews Fa
NOUS British Soldier.

COBB AND KITCHENER
Famous Correspondent Interviews Fa-
nous British Soldier.
Irwin S. Cobb reports in the current
issue Of the Saturday Evening Post,
an interview on the war with Lord
Kitchener, which Is condensed by the
New York World. The interviewer
encountered q man who asked more
questions than he answered, but hav-
ing pumped his questioner dry, ex-
pressed his own views freely in the
only talk, Mr.. Cobb declares, which
Lord Kitchener has given for publ
cation since the war began.
THE war will last not less than
three years." Lord Kitchener said. 1T
will end only when Germany Is
thoroughly defeated, not before-de-
feated on land and on sea. That the
allies will win Is certain. That for
us to win will require a minimum pc
ROD of three years / think probable.
1t might last longer-this war might.
1t might end sooner. 1t can end in
only one way.
THAT it will end in a month from
now, or six months or a year, l do
not think likely; so, to be on the safe
side, l say three years-at least three
years.
Britain Will Fight to End.
IF Germany gives up sooner. 80
us and for all the world. II three
years are required for the undertake
ing, or more than three years, the
world will find that we, for our part,
are prepared to go on, and ready to
go on, and determined to go on, and
certain to go on. In any event this
war can have but one outcome-one
ultimate conclusion.
1.-The Germans still think they will
win," said Lord Kitchener, speaking
with the infection that made the re-
mark part plain statement and part
question. ~ wonder how long time
they think it will take them to VIM"
They are still fully confident" Mr..
Cobb replied, but they have changed
their schedule-their time card"
Here Lord Kitchener made use Of
the one outright gesture he used. He
brought his fist down hard on the
table in front Of him with thump.
1t was a big sinewy fist-put 1t In
glove and 1t would make you think
of a bucks haunch-and the thump
was audible and solid.
Calls German Campaign Failure.
''They are right in one regard he
said slowly; ut will take longer than
a year to end the war. But they are
wrong in another regard; they are
wrong when they think they are go
ing to win-if, indeed, in their hearts
they honestly think that. They are
not going to win.
air In q q
failure. 1t Is a failure already, and
it will become more and more fall
ure as time passes. When an army
Of invasion ceases to invade that
army has lost its principle function
and has failed in it's principle object.
When that army hides itself In
trenches and fights at long range, 1t
is doing nothing except waste itself;
and especially Is this true when that
army, having reached its maximum
of strength and efficiency and aggres-
siveness months before. is now losing
in all those essentials.
ITO lie in that unending chain Of
trenches which stretches across
northern France for hundreds Of
miles, like long graysnake-that is
not waging a successful campaign:
That is not even waging war, as l
conceive war to be. For an army
of defense? Perhaps, yes; though
under certain circumstances 1t might
be a mistake for an army Of defense
so to dispose itself. For an army Of
invasion? Well, events-the future
will justify my belief. OF that l am
as sure as I am that I am alive.
Aero Attacks Not War.
Dropping bombs on cities, whether
those cities be defended or undefend-
ed, is not waging war. 1t is costly,
spectacular byplay which counts for
nought in the final result and really
does not count in the detail Of mo-
mentary advantage.
Paris might be captured and still
the war would go on. England might
be invaded-though I believe the en-
emy has not yet worked out complete
plans for that undertaking-and still
the war would go on. Germany might
take and keep the other side Of the
channel, as she has already taken
Antwerp, and still the war would go
on. Belgium might be made a cap
tive province for the time being, and
still the war would go on.
This war is going on until Ger
many has been defeated. There is no
other possible contingency.
Has not the confidence of the Ger
man soldiers been shaken by recent
events in the western theatre of
war, and especially by what has been
happening in France during the last
month? What do the men think of
the failure Of the German plan of
campaign toward Paris?
Great Mistakes Of Generals.
II do not understand why the
knowledge Of the truth of the situa-
ton as it exists today has not spread
through the armies and affected the
on the other side know-that their
leaders have made some terrible mis-
takes. All generals make mistakes.
just as we'll as all men make them;
but the mistakes that have made are
such great, such tremendously great,
mistakes!"
AS the interview proceeded, Lord
Kitchener asked the German attitude
toward the soldiers of the allies. Mr..
Cobb replied that the Germans re.
garded the Russian soldier as stub
born fighter and the officers incom-
petent; they concede the excellence
of the French light field artillery, but
say the French soldier lacks physical
endurance: the English are the hardest
fighters they have to meet. and they
speak particularly we'll Of the fighting
qualities Of the Scotch, but say there
are not enough British troops in the
field to count as a factor in the west
ern campaign.
..That 10 q defect" Lord Kitchener