New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-24
NO HOPE OF PEACE
BEFORE AUTUMN
Will Fight Years More if
Summer Drives Do
Not Defeat Foes
By ARTHUR s. DRAPER
LBy Cable to The TrIbun,I


no peace without victory" The
war will go on-through the coming
campaign at least-and if that fails
to bring victory, then on and on.
That is Britain's comment on
President Wilson's peace speech.
Germany must need peace much
more than Britain does if that speech
is to affect the length of the war.
/ make these statements with the
fullest assurance that they express
the feeling of the present govern
ment-a government which is lead
ing, not following, the people and
which the people are prepared TO
follow a very considerable distance
further before agreeing TO peace
without victory" Much water will
run under the bridge before that day
comes.
Resent Free Seas Demand
| shall not try to reflect the opir-
ion on the minor details of the
speech, which are favorable on some
points and sharply critical on others
The Presidents remarks on Poland.
and seaport for Russia, for in
stance, are extremely satisfactory
here.
His remarks on the freedom Of too
seas, vague as they are, and his fail
ure, as in his note of December rs.
to draw any distinction between thu
belligerents, are deeply resented
But on the whole the feeling appears
to be that, however unfortunate. tho
speech will do no injury to the in.
terests of the Entente.
But these things are Of little i'm
portance compared to the big question
of when the war is 20 stop. when
peace comes near the small differences
over questions like these become ant
hills which can be swept away with
little discussion. But, measured by
weeks or months, that happy time is
long way off. Victory first" is the de-
mand voiced in the new comment on
Wilson's speech
Fighting 10 Assure Peace
In the view of the leaders OF the
country the people are almost unani-
nous in the belief that they must
"carry on" and the President fails
completely to appreciate the white heat
prevailing here. Though erediting him
with the highest motives. the British
statesmen are astounded at his failure
to understand their point OF view, his
lack of appreciation of their position
and his sloofness and remoteness from
the actual facts Of the war.
They marvel that he does not realize
that the British loathed and hated the
war in August, 1914, and that they
loathe and hate il even more to-day;
that he does not see that they went 20
war because they considered il the only
thing possible if they were to be pre-.
served as a nation.
They are not being killed and
MANNED, suffering financial reyerses
and economic embarrassment because
they love fighting. but because they be-
lieve victory will mean that there will
be no future manning and killing and
no more of the hsrdships and atrocities
which have been incidents Of this war.
Cannot Stop New Drives
As ! recorded ten days ago, a pro-
found change has come over Britain.
The Presidents speech has not altered
the national programme one iots. The
truth is that the war has gained such
a momentum that nothing short OF 2
miracle could stop the new campsigr.
On both sides Of the line the mill
tary activities have gained impetus,
and soon the powers will be locked In
a death struggle which every bellig'
erent hopes will be the last. Most ex.
pect that il will prove the erownins,
eliminating and decisive struggle OF
the war, but if it is indecisiye Britain
is fully prepared to carry on.
There is good reason TO believe that
much the same state of feeling exists
in Germany. SO a peace short of early
autumn is hardly possible.
Generally speaking, the Presidents
speech gets much the same reception
as his original peace note before Christ
mas. Those circles which welcomed hi,
first maneuvre are wildly excited over
his latest peace gesture, while thoss
that frowned in mid-December wear
much the same scowl now. But mean.
while they have grown accustomed to
the peace msneuyring, and no longer
fear il, just as familiarity with war
breeds contempt of danger.
The pscihsts still see ar early peace,
hut the President has not material.