The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-29
KanSan, Back From War, Isn't
Disturbed Over Retreat.
Germans Will Withdraw to the
Western Front, He Says.
LONG and BLOODY WAR
Germany Is Not whipped
Russia Is Smashed Now.
Press Agent Fails To Keep
Allen Out of the Race.

Don't be too excited about the situ-
alton in Italy. AS soon as Germany
is forced to recall her troops to the
western front-and that may be be-
fore Thanksgiving-the Italians will
turn and whale the tar out of Aus
tria." That is the statement of Will
liam Allen White of Emporia. home
from his trip with Henry ]. Allen to
the European war zones under direc-
tions of the American Red Cross.
White today said other things
many things. He talked of the war in
the various sectors. He talked of his
plans-plans for stories of the war
He talked politics-Kansas politics
He buried the ALLEN out of the gov
ernorship gossip in a bomb proof
/ trench. He said Allen would spend
the winter and coming spring in work
for Herbert Hoover and in a big drive
| for the Red Cross. Then Allen will
go INTO smash bang campaign for
/ the Republican gubernatoriaI nomi-
nation.
Italy without Guns.
Italy is without guns. That is the
reason for her retreat in the hair rais-
ing drive which the Germans and
Austrians have started across the
Alps,
mo one in the war zone is sur
prised," said White. I'VE were in
Italy We were all over the western
'front.' Everywhere everyone knew
and felt just what would happen
Just the thing that is happening now
Italy can beat the Austrians But she
| can't whip the Germans. She has
men, She has food. But she lacks
guns That is the secret. These con-
ditions have been known for six
months.
.eTf the 6-ar,,,, ..
the Austriaas drive back the Italians,
| they must wea ken their western front
! Under present conditions the British
viii go right through the Germans on
the western front with the French
right behind them They will drive
| tions by Thanksgiving. The Germans
must then withdraw their men to the
western zone and the Italians will turn
and whale the tar out of the Austrians.
Just as they have always done.
Long and Bloody War.
! 1t is long war and a bloody war,
White predicts
We were in a London tbeatar
Henry and l." said White, where the
situation breaks out in stage humor
every now and then"
How long did you enlist for?'
asked the first soldier
t Seven years. was the reply. and
I
My God replied the first soldier,
L enlisted for duration.
The war will go right thru the
winter and maybe for long time
] thereafter" continued White. 1.-The
Germans are not whipped. Not by a
whole lot. The allies must keep right
on with their drives-keep pounding
away on every front. That is the thing
that will win. The allies are in good
condition. we'll cared for. well fed
and plenty of ammunition and guns.
w hen we were on the western front in
August the allies were blazing away
at the Germans with 32 shots to a
return for one from the Germans
Russia Is Smashed.
Russia is smashed and broken.
White believes Russia may get back to
active fighting-if the war lasts long
enough.
But the Emporia editor wouldn't
venture "A guess as to the necessary
length of the war to win tangible,
effective aid from the demoralized
r ssian government and military
frees.
"The situation in Russia is just the
situation which would have existed in
Austria had not the Germans gone to
their aid in driving back the Italians"
said White. THE Germans saw it
and for the time at least blocked this
trouble by sending troops to their aid
How long Germany can permit the
use of these troops sent to- Austria's
aid is problematicaI."
White will almost Immediately be-
gin the writing of a number of short
stories. all concerning the war. He
has contracted to provide several
stories for Golfers. other big maya
zines will use Whites stories On the
western front White saw the battle
from the front trenches, learned to
dodge the big. kissing bomb fire and
surveyed the battle lines from one of
the fast war planes.
II paid my own way on the trip,
giving such services as I could said
are my own. l may do with them as
1 see fit I think 1 have a number of
mighty good war stories in my sys-
tenn 1t is my plan to begin getting
them out right away"
Allen in Race.
As for Henry ]. Allen of Wichita,
White has laid at rest all doubt as TO
the Wichita editors intention to run
for governor next year. An adroft
Topeka press agent had aided an op-
position candidate in spreading the
gossip that Allen wouldn't be a candi-
date for the governorship when he re-
turned from Europe. But White who
has eaten and slept with Allen for
more than two months. knows better
You can just bet your life Henry
for one minute" and Whites voice
rang with emphatic denunciation of
the carefully directed gossip of the
last few weeks. Henry hasn't a
Thought of getting out, altho he won't
make a campaign or think or talk