The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-11-04
Nowhere in England, France
or Germany is There the
Slightest Evidence of
End Of Struggle.
GERMANY WANTS PEACE
Would Welcome Close of War, But
Would Not Agree to Terms
Dictated by the
ALLIES.

latter more than four months
spent in South America and Europe,
Roy w. Howard, president of the
United Press, returned to New York
today. While abroad, Howard met and
obtained from thes1eaders in England,
France and Germany their personal
views on the war and the chances of
peace. Though most of the state
ments made 20 him were made under
the pledge that there should be no
direct quotation, they furnish the
basis for the conclusions reached in
the following article. Howard is one
of the very few neutrals permitted to
visit the opposing belligerents during
the past year.l
IBy Roy W. Howard, President OF
the United Press.1
NEW YORK, Nov. 4.-Nowhere
either in England, France or Ger
many. is there the slightest evidence
yet of an approaching end Of the
war. In no country is there any in.
dication that the struggle can be de-
termined within the next two years.
There are .innumerable indications
that the end is much farther off.
Lord Northclitfe, who more often
probably than any other man has
correctly forecast the wars develop
ments, is now urging the British to
make no calculations based upon
peace within five years.
Although pushing their offensive
on the Somme with great vigor, the
British land forces will not have at
tanned full lighting strength before
next summer. The idea current in
Germany that France is too nearly
exhausted for further dangerous
offensive is unwarranted optimism.
The actual figures Of the Somme
drive where the French, (though
only called on to protect the right
wing of the British offensive force)
have actually taken more ground and
more prisoners than the British, is,
indicative of what the French have
in reserve. So also the new thrust
at Verdun.
On the other hand, the idea cur
rent in the allied countries that Ger
many sees either defeat or exhaus-
out justification.
wants it badly. The French and Brit
ISL puUIC luAouAuCA oIoSA eSho
misconstrued this. The fact is that
Germany wants peace now, not be-
cause she believes herself defeated,
but because she thinks she is nearer
a military Victory than she or any
of the belligerents will again come.
Germans admit that they are sur
feited with war, but insist that
France and Russia are equally so.
They say that at the present rate
of the Somme advance, in time and
casualties, England's allies will be
bankrupt before "the great push can
reach the Rhine. Germans ridicule
the idea that any offensive can pene-
trate the Rhine defenses.
The past eighteen months have
worked great changes in the bellig-
erent capitals. Paris changed Least
during the intervals brighter,
gayer and a shade nearer her nor
NAL, even though the war is still the
all-engrossing idea. Berlin has be-
come almost sombre. A rather noisy
and exaggerated confidence has given
place to a determination truly grim.
The food situation, if not working
the havoc with stomachs that the
allies would like to believe. is hay
ing its effect on nerves. The diff
Guilty is not 80 much scarcity of food
as soaring of prices and monotony Of
diet. Everywhere the question Is
asked, when IS peace coming ?"-but
nowhere is there evidence of fear or
voiced dissatisfaction with govern
ment or army.
When peace is talked Of by the
average German, it is a peace with
full honor to Germany. 1t is peace
creditable to tie Germany that has
conquered Belgium, Poland, Serbia
and the richest districts of northern
France; the Germany which is over
running Rumania and which even in
a war of attrition Is still adding to
it's captured territory. The peace
openly striven for by Germany is
far different thing, Involving as 1t
does q restoration of the status quo
ante as the limit of concessions)
from the only peace ever mentioned
in Paris or London-a peace to be
dictated to Germany.
But it is London that has under
gone the greatest transformation. In
1he fall of 1914 the Englishman was
talking glib1y of business as usual"
last spring he was rather bored be-
cause the war probably would drag
over into 1916 and was chatting under
the upset of business routine. To-
day there is no business, AMI no
routine in England, except tn" bust
ness and routine of making war.
Peace as a topic of conversation is
almost taboo. More men, more NUM-
lions, more money. Release the eli
gibles for military service: perfect
the organization behind the battle
line and keen the hands of the poll
ticians or General Sir Douglas Haig.
These are the sole topics of the mo-
ment.
The British nation after two years
of muddling, stumbling and blunder-
ing, is finally ir. the war clear up to
John Bulls eye brows.
The zest for the war everywhere
evidenced in London today is only
| comparable with that tidal wave OF