The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-16
GERMANS TO WIN
IN WAR IN 1917
This IS Prediction Of Officer in
Prussian Guards, Who
Was Captured by
British.
BLAME N FOR AMERICA
Says Struggle Would Have Ended ia
Year. Had the United States
Not Sold Munitions
to the ALLIES.
BLAME FOR AMERICA

by Wilbur s. Forrest, United Press
Staff Correspondent
BRITISH BASE HOSPITAL,
NORTHERN FRANCE. July 21. (By
mail. 1.-THE war will end early in
1917. Which side will win? Ger
many will win, Of course"
A wounded of1cer of the noted
Prussian guard made this assertion
to the United Press today. The
words came between big bites Of
thick white bread laid sandwichlixe
over heavy spread of real butter
and orange marmalade The omcer
was hungry. With about 200 com
rades he had just arrived from the
scene of the big British offensive.
He had been nipped In the leg BY
shrapnel. His wound did not deter
him from verbal optimism. But he
was greatly thankful for the neat
hospital cot and the treatment he
was receiving.
why were you taken prisoner"
he was asked.
"The British had too much artillery
Tor u.s." was the reply Their fire
was stronger than ours and we were
cut off. We had plenty Of food but
no water. We had to surrender !.
This oficer spoke excellent Eng
lish. He learned it in German
school He was under thirty and q
perfect specimen of manhood.
How long have you been at the
frOnt?" he was asked.
twenty-five months" he replied
with pride. I've been in Poland.
Galfcia, Champagne. verdun and at
Contalmaison and Mametz wood.
was captured at Mametz wood. For
five days my division was cut off by
the British artillery fire. A trip to
the rear for water was death. Long
range guns were playing streams OF
steel on the lines between us and
the rear. Shorter range guns were
doing the same In front. At night we
could crawl to shell holes and drink
the water gathered there. but it was
very risky and the water did not
last"
War Lasts Another Year.
Despite his wound and the fact that
he was prisoner, the Prussian
could not conceal an air OF cock
iness.''
Germany will win the war;" he
added in his slow, careful English.
"We have the men, the guns and the
material. But think it will last
another year.
what about the food situation in
Germany?'
Food is very short now, but there
is enough to last until the harvest.
Then we will have plenty. We are
not worried"
Discussion OF the possible duration
of the war led the wounded German
to a denunciation Of the United
States.
"You Americans are responsible
for the long war that Germany IS
having" he said. "The war would
have been over in a year II you
Americans had not sold munitions to
England"
'But Germany might have bought
munitions from America as well as
England, perhaps the British Meet
was partly to blame"
/, Eyes" was the response, but we
blame the United States more"
Neither the Prussian officer nor his
comrades had heard about the exploit
of the German submarine Deutsch-
land The details interested them
intensely.
Private Gerhard-of a Prussian
guard regiment-was just as conf
dent as his officer about the extent
of the war but unlike the officer, was
willing to give hearty praise to the
fighting British "Tommies."