Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-24
WASHINGTON QUITS GUESSING
AS TO PROBABLE TIME OF
CESSATION OF POSSIBILITIES.
REPORTS CURRENT THAT
RUSSIA TIRES OF CONFLICT
Reorganization Of British Cabinet In
aieates More Vigorous Prosecution Of
War 10 to Be Observation-Disclosures
Must Be Given Up by Germany Be-
fore Peace Can Be Negotiated.
Especial Correspondence

4
has long been waiting to hear some
word that would give it definite reason
for hope that the European war had
reached the point where the END was in
sight 1t is still waiting.
Now and then some circumstance is
brought forward and cited as an indi-
cation that the end is near. But in
each instance, the circumstantial evil
dence is disproved by actual events
When Colonel House went TO Eur
ope and. as is generally believed, made
inquiries about the outlook at the in
stance of the president, he was unable
to get assurances that an early peace
might be expected.
Russia Tires Of Conflict.
Lately. reports have been current in
some quarters Headquarters usually
we'll advised-that Russia is firing Of
the conflict, that she believes she is
bearing the brunt of the fighting. and
that she is ready to listen to peace
proposals.
But such talk would be taken more
seriously here if the Dardanelles had
been battered into defenseless state
Constantinople occupied. Whenever
the Russian peace story arises, the
DardanelIes situation is adduced to
contradict it, Officials and army and
navy officers here find it difficult TO
believe that Russia, with the goal in
sight of unrestricted access to the
Mediterranean. goal she has so long
sought, is going to abandon the war.
-, nS no raj
ian forces to the forces Of the allies
and the expected entrance of Rou-
mania into the war. If the Italian ar
mics make real effort TO break thru
the Alpine passes and strike the heavy
blows at Austria which their paper
strength would seem to warrant, it
would make the time most inopportune
for Russia TO relax. Her chances for
making progress in northern and east
ern Austria would be obviously greatly
improved and the time might prove
favorable for another direct move
against the eastern front Of Germany.
England Just Beginning to Fight.
Nor has the cabinet upheaval in
England escaped notice here in re-
spect TO its bearings on the length Of
the war. Although Washington offic-
ials and army and navy officers here
do not have an intimate acquaintance.
as a rule, with English internal poll
tics. the disposition is TO interpret the
nationalizing of the cabinet as indica-
tive of a deep-seated demand by the
English public that the war be con-
Quoted with even more vigor on sea
and land SO far as Great Britain is
concerned. 1t is a curious fact that
Lord Kitchener said months ago the
war would begin in May. 1t is felt here
that the cabinet upheayal is TO be TAX
en- by no means as symptom that
England is anywhere near ready to
quit. but on the other hand as indi-
cative of the fact the English people
are becoming thoroughly aroused to
the tremendous problem they have on
their hands and are resolved to so to
the limit in seeing the struggle thru.
In the Final Roundup.
Great Britain obviously can not az
ford to quit while Germany has posses
sion Of Belgium. tho ii has to be re-
membered that the allies have posses
sion OF so much of the German colonial
possessions that Germany could well
afford to give up Belgium and the strip
Of northeastern France which she oc-
cupies in order to get back her colon
les. In Africa alone the allies have
enough of the German colonial posses
sions to give them the trading stock to
bargain German out of Belgium, in all
reasonable likelihood, if it should come
TO making exchanges about a peace ia
bic. AS for Kaio, Chau, that is gone for
all time from Gsfman hands.
In almost no direction does there
seem rift in the war clouds. Such a
rift may appear suddenly as has Of
ten happened in history. But it cannot
be discerned now. And the United
States Is looking for 1t more earnestly
than ever today because recent exper-
fence has shown that the danger OF
,, America being dragged into the con-
hirt is NOT an imaginary danger