The daily Alaskan., 1914-10-23
NOT A SHORT WAR

Late war uSWS lS uOA
 ts early peace. On the con- trary, 1t tends to confirm the judg- ment of those who have predicted from the first that the great strug- gle would be long and desperately contested for many months to come, says the Cleveland Leader.
 The French and British armies show no such strength as they would need to drive the German forces out of France and into Ger many and then mako important in roads upon German territory, The allies must grow relatively much stronger and the Germans relatively weaker to make such results possible.
 That change may come, but it will take Q long time. British re- cruits cannot be trained in a few weeks sufficiently to be fit for heavy work against such a foe as the German army. France is quite thoroughly drained of her reserves at least as much so as Germany
 If the allies were assured that Russia could soon invade Germany with armies of such size and power as to promise decisive results, all that the AnglO-French forces would need to do would be to hold the Germans in check and let Russia strike when the Cars generals were ready. But there is no such prospect.
 Evidently the German military authorities are assured now that they can hold Russia at the iron tier, or near it, without using very large forces for that purpose. Those who look for the speedy ending of the war by the Czar's promised march into Berlin greatly overrate the size and mobility of the Rus sian army.
 Nothing within the bounds of probability which can happen to Austria-Hungary would ever suffice 10 force Germany to accept such terms of peace as the Russian and British governments are evidently determined to exact, if the allies prove yictors. There is absolute ly no way to compel Germany to listen to such conditions except by crushing the German armies and rendering Germany helpless.
 It is a vast task which has not yet been brought within any near time limit which the most san guine Of the partisans of France, Great Britain and Russia can fix and justify. There is no remote hint, as yet, of such an end.
 On the other hand, 1t is impos- sible to discern anything in pres ent conditions or in the outlook which points to the quick ending Of the war in the triumph of Ger many and Austria-Hungary. Rus sia is practically intact. Russian territory is not seriously menaced at any point where invasion would count greatly. The United King dom and the British colonies are steadily gaining strength, in the military sense. The British mar gin of superiority on the sea is even more overwhelming than it was when the war began. It will steadily widen as the warships un- der construction in British and German shipyards are brought to completion. France is not vitally hit. The French army is standing the strain and wear of war admira- ply. Even Belgium is far from done" Servia and Montenegro are still full Of fighting spirit, Japan is easily master in the limit ed field of Japanese operations.
 Where is the prospect or prom lse of peace within many months? Is it rot plain that American busi- ness men and all Americans must plan and prepare for long war and the conseQuneces and condi- tions 1t creates and entails?