Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-07-15

Ridder publishes very interesting
interview with a journalist who has
spent two years in Europe studying
the war situation and of whom Mr.
Ridder says:
"He is the author of one of the
best books written since the war be-
gan and has just finished a visit to
Verdun. All this is explained Of the
fact that in so far as one man can
pass as an expert on the tremendous
problems that concern the world to-
day, he is as good title as anyone
l know. His sympathies are pro-
ally. For many reasons it is adj
visable not to mention his name"
The interview follows:
@. How long will the war last?
A. That is the question which
everybody is asking me and it is the
one question which cannot answer.
l see not the slightest evidence Of
the coming peace.
Q. What is the situation at YER
dun?
A. There is no doubt in my mind
that the Germans will take Verdun,
as II is almost impossible for the
French to supply ammunition and
food without railroad line. Each
night, 5000 lories leave the base and
travel over shollcut roads to bring
the next days supply to the hard
pressed troops of the trenches. The
French General Staff originally had
determined to give up Verdun with
out a fight, but public opinion has
forced the matter into a test Of
strength and the French have been
obliged to wage an unequal fight in
the defense of a totally unimportant
strategical place. 1t is a losing fight,
however, and eventually the Germans
will take the place.
@. What Is the reason for the al
lied offensive at this time?
A. Public opinion both in Britain
and France demanded an effort to
throw out the invaders. The spirit
of the French is very bitter because
each of the three succeeding genera
tions have seen German troops on
French soil The French feel that
the Germans must be driven back to
their own quarters. What happens
after that is unimportant, and there
is some opinion in France that If the
Germans could be driven from the
French soil which they now occupy,
there would be no further reason for
the French continuing the war. Brit
ish public opinion has been very rest
less during the past six months de-
manding some return for the great
sacrifices of men and material which
have been poured into the army.
The Allied Powers desire further
more a test OF concerted offensive
strength on the part OF France, Brit
ain, Russia and Italy for the purpose
of locating a possible weakness in
the lines of the Central Powers.
Q. DO you think that the offensive
of the Allies has been a source of
disappointment to the allied leaders?
A. No French or British Generals
hope to break through the German
lines French warfare on the West
Front with its machine guns accom-
paniment is too firmly fixed to per-
nit much variation. no, m2 tier how
long the war may last.
@. What does public opinion in
Greece think of the violation of the
neutrality of Greece by the Allies?
A. Public opinion In Greece is in
facor of keeping out of the war at
any price. Venizelos was originally
perfectly correct from the great ma
tionalistic view in favoring the
course of the Allies. Turkey was the
natural enemy of Greece and Bull
garia had been an enemy for years.
I When, however, Italy came into the
war, Greece was placed in a dilemma
as to the choice of side. Venizelos
was originally right, but failed to
change his point of view when con-
ditions in the war demanded a new
point Of view for Greece The Greeks
at the present time are suffering
severely because of the war and can
gain nothing through it. There is
much bitterness against the Allies
for the blockade and trade restric-
tions.
@. What do you think of the en-
trance of Italy into the war?
A. 1t is without doubt the great
est blunder of the Allied diplomacy.
The Entente would have been much
better off without Italys coopera-
ton. From the day when Italy en-
tered the war the Balkans were per-
manently turned against the Allies.
Bulgaria might have remained neu-
trail and Greece might have taken an
active part in the war had Italy re-
manned in neutral position. Fur
thermore, the entrance Of Italy in
the war solved all the problems OF
unit in so far as Austria-Hungary
was concerned. The Dalmatians and
the Croatians and the entire southern
Slav element preferred the Haps-
burgs to Italian domination. The en-
trance Of Italy into the war was a
great blunder. When history is
written, feel sure that the handling
OF the italian problem will be con-
sidered the greatest mistake of the
Allied diplomats.
Q. Do you think that the Allies
can win this war?
A. l do not believe that Germany
can be crushed if that is what you
mean by an ally victory. This war
must be settled around the council
table, for II never can be settled on
the battlefield. II Germany can re-
sist economically the pressure of the
British blockade, there is no pros