East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-12-04
KITCHENER SAYS THAT
WAR WILL LAST THREE
YEARS AT THE LEAST
SECRETARY OF WAR FOR ENG.
LAND is INTERVIEWED ON
THE OUTCOME.
Germans Have Made Some Costly
Mistakes, lie DecIares-Campaicn
In France Has Falled-Fightlng
WIN Go on Until Germany Has
Been Defeated.

Lord Kitchener, in an interview I'm
the Saturday Evening Post, written by
irwin 5. Cobb, declares that the En-,
ropean war will last all OF three
years Cobb says that while he went
TO interview Kitchener. the great
Englishman turned the tables upon
MIN and set out some leading oues-
lions for Cobb himself to answer.
Describing the meeting, Cobb says
In the Post:
From the dull-metal buttons to the
arm-seal, across the left breast OF the
coat ran narrow twin lines or ribbon
decorations.
The strips OF ribbon were Of all the
primary colors. and other colors be-
sides, and were so numerous that n
was OF no use to try 10 count them.
know, because I tried
As he stepped out into the middle
OF the room 1t struck me that he was
somewhat heavier than I had been led
10 believe from the pictures had
seen OF him, and a trifle stooped in
the shoulders. 1 got the impression
OF tall. bulky man-not fleshy. but
solid' with well fleshed muscles and
a big-boned frame. He shook hands
with me hard and quick; and as we
sat down. he at his desk and 7 In n
chair before the crate fire. ten feet
away from him he said, on the in
slant
"Lort Northcliffe tells me YOU
nave lately been with the Germans
with the German army in the field.
That is very interesting. Tell me.
piease-is the German commissary
good?"
Going over the meeting subsequent
~ was inclined to believe that this
opening question keynoted the atti.
tude Of mind Of Lord Kitchener. First
or all, he wanted to know how the
enemy he fought was fed: 1t was the
supreme thing for him to know.
Other things could wait.
l told him that so far as my in
expert eyes might Judge. the German
commissary was very good.
But how good? ?' he insisted. How
complete? Is it adequate at all times?
In your experience has it ever failed
them?"
Well" said. striving to be exact
and yet not waste words like NOSE
or the German military equipment 1t
seems to me to be somewhat cumber-
some but highly efficient. Certainly
1t is perfect in detail and in organi-
zation. There is always an abund-
ance of food for the troops in the
ueld; and always there is determin-
ed effort to get the food up to the
men on the fighting lines and to have
1t hot when it reaches them-and to
have plenty Of it for them. II is not
particularly appetizing in its appear
ance but it is wholesome and abund-
ant and know man can live on it
and be well nourished. 1 know. be-
cause l lived on it myself for upwards
OF a week"
There is meat in the ordinary ra-
lion them" he asked.
Yes" said-"veal generally:
beef; bacon and sausage
frequently. ! should say the German
soldier averages one filling meal of
meat a day at least"
Lord Kitchener" I said, "in your
opinion how long will this war last?" {
Not less than three years" he said
IT will end only when Germany Is
defeated. not before-de- ;
eated on land and on sea. That the
lilies will win is certain. That for us ]
o win will require a minimum peri S
ID of three years l think probable. It
night last longer-this war might. 1t I
night end sooner 1t can end in only I
me way. 9
At Least Three Years. I
That 1t will end in a month from
low. or six months or a year, / do
lot think likely; so, to be on the safe
ide. say three years-at least three
ears.
IF Germany gives up sooner, so
much the better for Germany and for
s and for all the world. If three
ears are required for the undertake
ng, or more than three years, the
'orld will find that we, for our part
re prepared to go on, and ready to
o on. and determined to go on, and
ertain to go on In any event this
,ar can have but one outcome-one
Ultimate conslusion." His big jaw
muscles twitched.