Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-01
DON'T KNOW
XH[N WAR WILL End
you WILL HAVE TO ASK GER.
MANY" is ANSWER MADE sY
BRITISH OFFICER.
MEN AT FRONT 90 NOT
LOOK FOR PEACE SOON
Say War May Continue Two More
Years, Time Being Dependent on
Germany's Powers of Resistance
Disintesratins Process Declared to
Be Working Constantly.

Disintegrating Process Declared to
Be Working Constantly.
Correspondence of Associated Press.1
London, Oct. 20.-"You will have to
ask Germany"
This was the answer OF distin-
guished English officer recently back
from the front when the familiar query
was put to him: When will the war
end?
1--WE know what we can give Them
he continued, but we do not know as
yet just how much they are prepared
10 stand, or are willing to stand. In
the meantime we will increase the
pressure more and more until the
break comes"
With the turning Of the tide on the
~ disposition here to feel that hos
lilities soon would be over. The OIL
GERS and men Of the army do not share
these views. however, and are con-
8 antly cautioning the people at home
against the idea that the issue VIII De
settled within the next few months.
From conversations with scores OF
officers familiar with the situation at
the front it can be stated that they DO
rot expect the war to end at the
earliest before next autumn. There are
many who believe there are two more
years Of fighting before the allied ma
tons.
I'VE have got a long way to Co.
said General Sir William Robertson,
Kitcheners successor. few days ago.
".1a I-e must be ready IN GO all the
way" he added. Eight to finish Is
the order There must be no slacken-
.rg off. On the contrary. there must
be a great tightening up"
Long Road Ahead.
No good soldier will make definite
prediction as to the end Of the war.
I'VE must be prepared to go on for
a period of time which il is Impossible
to estimate" said Sir William Ano
that expresses the opinion of the army
There may he various influences al
Wors which they know nothing o.
deere is the constant talk heard here
of internal troubles in Germany,
but the army officer only looks at the
map" He sttll sees a long road ahead
h,,.tofe the victory he has in mind can
become a reality. The military defeat
az Germany, and that is the only de-
feat the army looks forward to. means
an invasion of the German Empire.
General Sir OMoore Creagh- the dis
.tinpn;shed Irish Nv. c." has said
..The Indian Lancers may never ride
90 GG
end OF thDwar will not come until II
is possible for them to do so.
Things are going so well at the west
ern front that II Is difficult even iot
any words of warning TO dull the spirit
,,f .nlation In London. With Germany
or the defensive it is felt here that
the enemy is no longer lighting TO re-
tain all he seized in the first great on
slaught of the war. but IS ratRer
struggling to hold as much as possible
until peace shall come. There Is the
predicted shortening of the western
line" which Londoners confidently look
fer from day to day.
ON the other hand. the statement OF
General Foch, the French commander,
Who declares the Germans are so tieht-
ly held in the west it is impossible TOT
them to either advance or to retreat
in any great number
I'VE are on them" he said, like
corrosive acid. We have eaten INTO
their tanks and they can't throw US
off. You can not always see acid at
work, but the disintegrating process is
going on all the time"
Fling at Infantry.
The artillery of the allies on the
Somme. where the great armies OF the
belIiperents are massed, commands
such an overwhelming influence as to
nreyent retreat, it Is said. The shell
ing behind the German lines Is just as
If tense as it Is In front. The expendi-
ture of English shells has frankly
amazed the Germans, the military
critics here alb agree, and the artillery
activity has brought about a distinct
new phase in the fighting. 1t has
driven the once closely locked trenches
further and further apart. II mas
solved the problem OF dealing with q
Dug in enemy. It mas Been c.scnv-
cred that the way to successfully TAKE
a trench is to obliterate it, to natten II
cut with sheH-fire. Recent allied al
yances have been bought with am
munition rather than blood. This mas
lee George Queri. the German critic, to
write in the Berliner Tageblatt:
every German killed costs for-
tune to the French. The enemy Is de-
voting all Of his attention to artillery.
The whole concentrated experience OF
| two years nnds expression in shells ana
more shells. His infantry - used only
| tc test the bridge made by shells 70
the German trenches. 1nfanry fghting
| is no longer man against man. The
trench is only rushed by infantry when
liz has been blown to dust. It is con-
fession by the enemy that his infantry
| is Of poor quality.
This fling at the infantry, according
to British officers is merely put in to
cover up the real tribute to the artii-
flery OF allies. The military authori-
| ties here have been somewhat sur
pri.ed at the deep impression the artii-
IIery has made in Germany They were
quite delighted with report by
German military expert quoted as hav-
ling said: