The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-11-02
END OF WAR UP
TO THE TEUToNS
British O6eer Says ASK Germany"
When Asked How Long War
Would Last.

London, Oct. 31.-(Cor. Associated
Press.)-"You will have to ask Ger
many"
This was the answer Of . distin-
guished English officer recently back
from the front when the familiar que,
ry was put to him: "When will the
war end?"
1--WE know what we car give Them"
he continued, "but we do not know as
yet how much they are prepared to
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
western b~attlefelds there was natur-
ally a disposition here to- feel that
hostilities soon would be over. The
officers and men Of the army do not
share these views, however, and r
constantly cautioning the people at
home against the idea that the issue
will be 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
not expect the war to end at the ear
lest before next autumn. There are
many who believe there are two more
years Of fighting before the Allied
nations.
1--WE have got a long way to co."
said General Sir William Robertson,
Kitchener's successor, a few days ago.
"And we must be ready to go all the
way" he added. Eight to a finish
is the order. There must be no slack
ening off. On the contrary, there must
be a great Tightening up"
No good soldier will make a def
mite prediction as to the end of the
war.
I'VE must be prepared to go on for
a period Of time which it is impossible
to estimate" said Sir William. And
that expresses the opinion of the
army. There may be various influ-
ences at work which they know moth
ing of, there is the constant talk
heard here of internal troubles in
Germany, but the army officer only
"looks at the map" He still sees a
long road ahead before the victory he
has in mind can become : reality. The
military defeat of Germany, and that
is the only defeat the army looks for
ward to, means an invasion of the
German Empire. General Sir O'Moore
Creagh, the distinguished Irish ~.
G." has said:
1.-THE Indian Lancerss may never ride
through the B~randenburg gates, but
the end of war will not come until it
is possible for them to do So"
Things are going so we'll at the
western front that it is difficult even
for any words Of warning to dull the
spirit Of elation in London. With
Germany on the defensive it is felt
here that the enemy is no longer fight
ing to retain all he seized in the first
great onslaught Of the war, but is
rather struggling to hold as much as
possible until peace shall come. There
is the predicted shortening of the
western line," which Londoners cor.
fidently look for from day to day.
On the other hand, is the statement
of General Foch, the French comman.
der, who declares the Germans are 50
tightly held in the west it is impossi-
bic for them to either advance or to
retreat in any great number.
"We'are on Them" he said, like q
corrosive acid. We have eaten into
their tanks and they can't throw US
Oft. You cannot always see acid at
work, but the disintegrating process
is going on all the time"
The artillery of the Allies on the
Somme, where the great armies of the
b~elligerents are massed, commands
such an overwhelming influence as to
prevent a retreat, it is said. The shell.
ing behind the German lines is Just
as intense as it is in front. The ex-
penditure Of English and French
shells has frankly amazed the Ger.
mans, the military critics here all
agree, and the artillery activity has
brought about a distinct new phas.
N the fighting. II has driven tho .
'nce closely locked trenches further
and further apart. It has solved the
problem Of dealing with. a dug IN"
enemy. II. has been discovered that
Fhe way to successfully take a trench
Ia IN 0h1itoroto - - a -.