Evening journal., 1916-02-17
England Would Fight On If All
Her Allies Which They Won't
By ED L. KEEN.

United Press Stall Correspondent.
NEW YORK. Feb. l7.-"How long do
YOU think the war will lastG"
After the usual polite and more or
less perfunctory inquiries as TO the
state Of his health aud what sort of a
trip he had. Judging from the writer's
personal experience and observations m
the last few hours. this is the first serl-
Gus question fred at every American re-
turning from Europe by everyone he
meets.
Anticipating some such inquisition,
and in order to guide him in forming
an opinion, the writer had asked the
same question Of lot Of folk in Eng
land Just before sailing on the Baltic
for New York II received almost ~
great variety of replies a. the num-
hcr of Britshcrs interrogated that IL,
as go time. They ranged all the way
from six weeks Co six years.
snt in their real essence all were
alike. Until Germany gives upl" was
the unanimous verdict.
they're telling good story nov Ia
London about the way Premier A-quith
is said to have answered this question
az "a recent social gathering. British
cabinet members have become 80 used
to parrying uncomfortable or pul1lmg
queries on the floor of tho House OF
Commons since the war heean that they
often. mconsciouslv carry their parlia-
mentary armament into the drawing
room.
How long do you think the war
will last Mr. Asquith2' inquired
fellow guest.
81 would have much preferred that
the honorable gentleman had given
me previous notice OF this question.
replied the Prime Minister In his
most unctious on-the-carpet tone, but
since he insists upon an immediate
and explicit reply. ! will say that the
: answer Is in the negative"
Although the head Of the British
administration can't be persuaded to
hazard time guess on the duration
OF the war. both his public and his
private utterances on the subject In
recent weeks leave no doubt that he
stands with every other Britisher
whose opinion Is AZ all worth con-
sldering, i'm the manifestly sincere and
honest belief that the war will 20 on
until Germany agrees 20 peace ON the
! terms Of the Allies.
Make no mistake about H. the Allies
! are out to win. They we're never so
/ determined or so united as they arc
today. That the recent made In
/ Germany" stories OF likelihood OF an
carly separate peace with Russia, or
France. or England. arc absolutely
without foundation | am firmly con-
] vinced. EYcn In the event OF the
remote possibility that one or more
OF the Allies might be persuaded 10
I enter into separate peace negotiations
with the Central Powers, England
would go right on fighting
IL would be most difficult for any
one who has lived in the British at
mosphere since before the war start
ed and has watched the gradual alter
alton OF the English national spirit
from airy cocksureness through sue
ccssive stages OF bewilderment, hu'
initiation. and lesson-learning, into
, one OF relentless bulldog tenacuy o
l purpose. TO arrive at any other con
clusion.
\ Despite all the muddling OF the pas
i eighteen months--the military mis-
, calculations. the diplomatic hlunders
the political upheavels. the Industrial
mrmoiis-the average Britisher ha
not only never dospaired, he ha
: never had any real doubt as 10 th
outcome Of the struggle. The NOR
| recent mlsfortunes the loss Of Bul
s' 'hgnria. the obiiteration Of Serbia an,
: Montenegro. the failures in Gallipoli
and the troubles in Mesopotamia h
, has regarded as mere episodes, un
pleasant. 10, Is true. but without am
effect except possibly to retard Tho
final triumph Of the Allies.