Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-18
SAYS GREAT WAR
IS JUST STARTING
Military Expert Declares 1t
Now Is a Long Contest
of Endurance.
BOTH OPPOSING ARMIES
IN INTRENCHED POSITIONS
Frenchmen as Well as Germans
Have Learned Much in Bloody
Confict-Heavy Losses.
BY HERBERT COREY

LONDON October 4.-"The great war
OF 1914 is just beginning. Only the
least important phase has passed. 1t
has now become a contest of endur-
ance-
This statement was made by one of
the few connoisseurs of war there are
in this world He has seen every one
of the great wars of the last two dec
AIDES For good reasons he does not
wish his name used. But his name and
history and responsibility are well
known to me.
Both great armies have been blood
Jed he said. THE period of reckless
and almost irresponsible slaughter has
passed. Upon the present line of bat
tle'-at the moment of writing 1t is
known as the Aisne-'both armies are
digging in. Unless the movement now
directed by Gen. Joffre against the
German right flank is successful these
armies may confront each other from
behind intrenched positions for months"
The gentleman / am quoting has had
unusual opportunities for observation
He has but returned to London from
trip along the entire French front
During a portion of his journey he was
the guest of the French minister of
war in the latter's own automobile.
He was permitted to observe in detail
the disposition of the French forces.
Naturally his only knowledge of the
German disposition was gained from
the statements of the French observers.
The Germans are intrenching them
selves very strongly" said he. I'm
less the thanking movement of which
have spoken is successful they may re-
tain their position during the entire
winter. Their lines of commissary sup
ply are open, and they will suffer no
difficulty for lack of ammunition and
food The same may be said of the
French.
Both armies have lost heavily, but not
as yet upon the relative scale of either
American army during the civil war in
any one of the major engagements of
that struggle. However, 1t is esti-
mated by the French that the Germans
have lost about 100000 in killed and
wounded. Many prisoners have been
taken. The French losses were smaller
during the early stage of the war. when
the Germans pressed continual Of
fensive. When the German retreat to
the Aisne began-they fell back sixty
miles in three days-the French losses
Immediately became the heavier. One
division of French troops was practi-
cally destroyed.
Germans Forget About Paris.
He does not believe that the Germans
will make further attempt to possess
themselves of Paris. He thinks their de-
feat is conclusive. so far as that part of
their enterprise is considered. But they
must remain actively on the defensive
until the t-ightful life waste and economic
loss force the allies to agree to peace
proposals. Otherwise they must newt
ably lose Alsace and Lorraine
Especial emphasis was laid by him on
the French attitude toward the peace
proposals. of which something is occa-
sionally heard firm Washington. France
Is opposed to any effort at this time to
conclude the war. The leaders of France
will insist upon its prosecution until some
way may be found to rmanently rid
Germany of the kaiser and the Prussian
party. In spite of the bitter race
hatred which has led to SO great loss on
both sides he found. little antagonism to
the German nation among the French.
THE German citizen did not want to
fight the French insist. He was forced
10 fight by the war lords. We must