Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-11-19
No Hope FOR Peace
This YEAR OR NEXT
Military Decision Cannot be
Expected Before 1919
Mccormick Says
SAYS WAR IS
NOW A STALEMATE

CHICAGO, ILL.,, Nov. i9.-Russia's col
lapse and the unreadiness Of the United
states make hopeless any thoughts Of
peace before 1919 in the opinion Of
Medill Mccormick, Congressman at
large Of Illinois, who has just returned
from a visit to most OF the important
fronts OF the European battle line.
Mr.. Mccormick in statement last
night said:
"1he Germans are not winning the
war. Neither ore we.
THE war presents a stalemate from
which we are unable 10 extricate our
selves because OF the collapse OF Russia
and the unreadiness Of the United
States.
Nowhere in Europe did find an in
formed soldier or public man who be-
lieved that a military decision could be
achieved before 1919, when the United
states might add effectively to pressure
on the Central Empires. There Is prac-
tically no hope that Russia can be use
ful during 1918. Russia is so disordered
that she cannot make war. Happily, in
all probability, neither can she make
peace.
The resources Of the Central Powers
have been theoretically spent. They
are bleeding terribly. But they act with
greater energy, unity and skin than
their enemies. Thus they make a SEEM
ingly successful drive into Italy. The
real object Of their political foray into
Venetia was partly TO make oamoulage
10 conceal their steady losses from
Nerdun TO Passchendaele and partly TO
provoke revolution IN Italy.
The Italians were under gunned.
neither had they enough ammunition.
But even so they would not have been
driven hack as they were II two or
three divisions, debsuched by the spy
system Of Germany. had not thrown
down their arms.
The French and British have a mod
crate preponderance IN guns, and man
/ for man they Outright the Germans.
while there are still excellent Ger
man divisions In Flanders there was an
appreciable diminution in the morale
and the physical quality Of the German
| troops on the French aud British fronts.
/ AZ the battle OF the observation-disclosures
/ the German batteries were so drenched
with fire that they were unable TO
reply NTH mathematical exactness
/ the French took the terrain. Hundreds
/ and hundreds OF heavy guns were EN-
ployed TO wreck the enemy defences be-
/ fore the advance was made, so al
| last when the infantry went forward
they did 30 with unbellevably small
losses. This is an artillery, an industrial
war. That must never be forgotten
Above all, heavy guns are necessary
heavy guns. with their obvious com
plemenis OF aircraft and rail transpor
tatiOn, but heavy guns and still NOR
heavy guns, twenty-five thousand can
non to be made ID American factcrie
and shipped 10 France before March
1919. This is the essence OF victor
and great guns offer the only mean
by which IL can be won.
The issue Of this war VIII be de
cided in Washington and by tn
furnaces or America.
The splendid little American arm,
which already has crossed the sea
rendered a great service when the echl
OF the first American feet upon tn
soil Of France carried 20 every hom
the promise that that strength. am
still more the industrial genius o
/ America, would bring succor 4
France
France is fighting with heroic an
logged courage. Her steady. thoughtful
soldiery arc ready 10 spend their bloc
and 10 die In the belief that Americ
will forge the weapons to win the wal
They must not be mistaken
81 say very earnestly that we mus