The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-02-17
War Will Last ''Unil Germany Gives Up"
is COncensus Of Opinion in England;
Asquith Gives Diplomatic
Answer 10 Query
FINAL OUTCOME OF
CONTEST NOT DOUBTED
Prospect for Separate Peace Only Remote
Possibility but With or Without AL
lies John Bull is Prepared
to Perseyere
BY ED L. KEEN.
(UnIted press staff correspondenI

70
NEW YORK, Feb. 17.-"How long do
yoa think the war viii last"
After the usual polite and more or
less prefunctory inquiries as to the
state OF his health and what sort Of a
trim he had, judging from the writer's
personal experience and observations
in the last few hours, this is the first
serious question fired at every Ameri.
can rel"rning from Europe by every
one he NETS.
Anticipating some such inqusition,
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. 1t received almost as
great a variety CT replies as the num-
Der OF Britishers interrogated-that is
as to time. They ranged all the way
from six weeks TO six years.
But In their real essence ali we're
alike Until Germany gives up was
the unanimous verdict
They're telling a good story now in
London about the way Premier As
quith is said to have answered this
question at a recent social gathering
British cabinet members have become
so used to parrying uncomfortable or
puzzling queries ON the floor OF the
house OF commons since the war began
that they often, unconsciously carry
their parliamentary armament into the
drawing room.
How long do you think the war will
last. Mr. Asqui:h?' inquired fellow
guest
Il would have much perferred that
the honorable gentleman had given me
previous notice OF this question" re-
piled the prime minister in his most
unctious on-the-carpet tone. but since
he insists upon an immediate and ex-
piicit reply, / viii say that the answer
is in the negative
Although the head Of The British adj
ministration can't be persuaded to haz
ard time guess on the duration OF the
war, both his public and his private
utteranoes on the subject in recent
weeks leave no doubt that he stands
with every other Rritisher whose opin-
ion is at all worth considering. in the
manifestly sincere and honest belief
that the war will go on until Germany
agrees to peace on the terms of the
allep
Make no mistake about it, the allies
are out to win. They were never SO
determined or so united as they are to-
day. That the recent made in Ger
many stories OF likelihood Of an early
separate peace with Russia, or France,
o. England, are absolutely without
Foundation | am firmly convinced.
Even in the event OF the remote pos
Sibility that one or more of the allies
might be persuaded to enter into sep
arate peace negotiations with the cen.
tral powers, England would go right on
fighting.
1t would be most difficult for any
one who has lived in the British at
mosphere since before the war started
and has watched the gradual altera-
ton Of the English national spirit from
airy cocksureness through successive
stages of bewilderment humiliation,
and lesson-learning, into one or relent-
less bulldog tenacity of purpose, to ar
live at any other conclusion.
Despite all the muddling of the past
1S months-0the military miscalcula-
tions. the diplomatic blunders, the po'
litical upheavels. the industrial tur-
moils--the average Britisher has not
only never despaired, he has never had
any real doubt as to the outcome of the I
struggle. The more recent misfortunes
the loss of Bulgaria, the obliteration
OF Serbia and Montenegro, the failure
in Gallipoli, and the troubles in Meso-
potamia he has regarded as mere epi-
sodes, unpleasant It is true, but with
out any effect except possibly to retard
The final triumph OF ahe allies.