The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-04
END Of GERMANY
NEXT AUTUMN IS
PRESENT FORECAST

London, May 2.-(Correspondence
of the Associated Press)-The begin
ming of the end for Germany next
autumn and peace before winter is
over, is the prediction of Lieutenant
General Jan Christian SHUTS, who
commanded the victorious British ex-
peditiOn in German East Africa and
who is now representing South Africa
IN the imperial conference here.
Morally and politically Germany
already is defeated" he said, the 9th
er day, "and all that remains is the
final issue on the field of battle.
"The submarine? Well, | am firmly
convinced that the submarine cam
paign is not going to settle this war.
At the best it is nothing more or
less than a raid on our wide imperial
lines Of communication. The raids
will be severe and will inconvenience
US very seriously, but they will not
lead to our defeat.
"No raid on lines of communica-
ton ever yet led to the defeat of any
empire in the world. This summer
| think we shall see the submarine
effort on which Germany is relying
fail and then, earlier than many of
us think, we shall hear of peace.
This nation is not inspired by
vengeful feeling, nor by any desire to
destroy the German nation. We are
actuated by higher motives. I am sure
the nation will make a wise settle
ment, not only in its own interests,
but in the interests of Europe.
"What can l modestly say about
South Africa? We started this war
with an internal convulsion in our own
country. Unlike other parts of the
British empire, we first had to set
our own house in order. This was
done. We secured peace and quiet
in South Africa, and today, except in
a small and fever-ridden district, the
German flag is not flying south of
the equator. Fifteen years ago a
very large proportion of this pOpula-
ton was locked in deadly conflict
with the British empire.
"The fundamental issue in this
struggle in which we are engaged is
that the government of the world is
not military, and that it cannot be
taken over by by a military machine,
but only on principles of equity, JUS
tice, fairness and equality.
You see the effects of this already.
Germany started enormously strong
and preponderant in military strength
over the world What have we seen?
Simply because we have a Just cause
and simply because she has been try
ing to hack her way through in a
military sense, one country after an
other has dropped away from her.
! Two of her own treaty nations have
| dropped her, and today, all over the
world, you will find the nations of
the world coming together against
her.
Il do not hide from myself that the
! position is grave one, that the cen
/ trail empires are an enormously
/ strong military combination, and
when I speak of ultimate victory !
/ do not hide from myself that we have
hard work in front of US and that
! there are difficult times ahead. There
is no doubt, however. after the long
/ time the war has lasted-alrost tree
! years-and the exhaustion which is
OvertakinE Central Europe, that they
cannot continue much longer, and
that by this autumn they will have
/ made their maximum military effort
! They are now flouting the opinion OF
the world in a way they have never
done before, and in a way which suc-
gests that they must try hard a
anv cost to achieve some result thi:
! summer.