The Washington times., 1915-05-03
WAR HAS BECOME
SIEGE OF A NATION
Roy W. Howard Says Allies Re-
gard Peace Movement in U.
S. as Impertinence.

NEW YORK. May S-"All Europe
| recognizes that the great war has
| dropped something new in history-the
siege OF a nation-and has resolved
| itself into an endurance contest OF In
determinable length.
"An end Of the war in 1915 Is generally
regarded as too remote for serious con-
sideration. America will eventually
have the greatest opportunity in worlds
history to act the peacemaker-unless
that opportunity is killed by ill-adviscd
and premature talk Of peace at this
| time 49,
The above Is the belief of Roy w.
Howard, president of the United Press.
| who returned to New York today after
three months tour Of the United
Press bureaus and field stations in Eng
land, Germany, Russia, France. BEL
sium. and Italy. During the tour now
and allied armies. and was given ex-
ceptional opportunities for flrst-hand OBJ
| servation Of conditions existing at tho
opening OF the spring campaign.
Long War Expected.
"Belligerent and neutral In Europe
have readjusted their life. national. COM
mercial. and social, on the basis OF an
indefinite war" he said. 'They have
eliminated every consideration con-
| tingent upon early peace. With. this
point OF view Europe Is dumfounded
| at Americas insistent peace talk and
her reluctance to accept the situation as
II exists and readjust business accord
ingly. Europe has accepted the worst
! as a probability, a war of from two to
prepared to be happily surprised should
the trouble terminate earlier,
| THE impression Is general in both
France and England that considerable
direction Of early peace. Such move
ment Is regarded as an impertinence.
In purely military circles It is con-
.strued as pro-German. Peace In the
near future. on any basis likely TO he
acceptable to Germany. is unthinkable
| In France or England. Neither country
feels that 1t has yet suggested what
| II can do in a military way under test.
Both admit Germany secured the jump
at the outset of the war and still holds
| the advantage
Germany Not firing.
England feels that the ability of a
| democracy to exist and rise to an cmer-
gency without compulsory military
service and without maintaining a trc-
| mcndous professional army is on trial.
Even advantageous terms now would
| not tempt ner 10 a peace with tne
strength OF this citizen army improved
Statements that Germany is tiring
of the war or that there Is a peace fac
ton growing in the fatherland car
country in Europe is the war spiri,
more nearly universal or the sacrifice
demanded being made so uncomplain'
ingly.
"The German people are for the wal
to the last man. woman. and child
Nothing but national exhaustion or q
government policy OF peace at any
reasonable price now. for the sake o
q fresh start later and a war agains
England alone would stitie this feeling
Il do not believe that even vic
tory OF the allies would be at th'
price of Germany crushed. There Il
every reason to believe that even befor,
partial victory Is secured the I'm
possibility of a successful general as
sault will have been learned at a stag
gering price. and the end-whatever 1
may be-will come only after process!
of attrition has worn one side to
state OF exhaustion.
Defenses Are Perfected.
Millions of men working for month,
along the western line have evolved &c
fenses on both sides. the strength o.
which is almost inconceivable. BEHIND
hundreds of miles OF lighting line nov
occupied by each army. and CONSISTING
OF a front trench. a secondary trenCl
and a reserve trench, the whole con
nected by communicating trenches
lie a series of even more complete line
OF defense, each consisting of the SAM
three major lines interlaced by com
municating trenches. and each with IL
miles OF barbed wire entanglements fl
place.
Whereas the present fighting lin
was chosen rather at random-jus
II
dug themselves in-each of the lines II
the rear has been constructed CAREFUL,
| along natural strategic lines selected b,
engineers. Intervals Of from six t
, fifteen miles separate these reserv
lines. The net result is that even
succesaful smashing Of mn enemy
fighting line and a breaking through a
any one point. only means that the de
feated force falls back a few niles I
take up a new position in a stronge
trench already waiting.
Germany's Condition Favorable.
Germany has not yet exhausted he
reserves in the matter of men. Franc
, has developed so rapidly during tn
D past six months that she will be abb
to get her efficiency little higher Rus
/ sia apparently can contribute nothin
I more than she has so far, except lr
a creased numbers. and Hindenburg ha
. shown that mere numbers cause hir
, little worry.
There has been nothing so far
indicate that Germany faces a probabil
e ~ of defeat in the oren field. If de
n fcated. 1t will probably be only b
Y wastate. Meanwhile the wastage G
q the allies will be equally heavy.
Franco or Belgium can contribute moth
a ing more the additional weight neces
d sary for an allied victory must com
from England.
. Up to this time the average English
man has not sensed the price that h
q will have 10 pay for crushed GeI
,, many He has not yet suffered as GeI
= many and France have suffered bs
. cause relatively his contribution G
troops has hecn small. press censn,
> ship to which the Englishman Is who'll
= unaccustomed has prevented him fro,
! getting the thrill that would come frol
= a full knowledge of the facts
= AS result England is rapidly ar
: proa ching point where she mus
a choose between one Of three course
y abolish her press censorship and civ
h"r newspapers an opportunity to doub