Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-03

The Amerlcan-people> should make
every effort to terminate the war with
IN a year or eighteen months, In the
opinion OF Frederic Il, Coudert. who
has returned from the war zone ana
the allied European countries,
MIR. Coudert also said the American
army in France needed more light ma
chine guns, gas shells, and small tanks
10 obviate heavy losses. He added that
il was largely because OF lack Of SUI
ficient implements OF this nature that
the British and French had lost 50
heavily during the last four years,
II have seen something OF our
troops" Mr.. Coudert said. They eN-
coed all expectations and are cooper
ating splendidly with the French aud
British. Parts does everything pos
sible to make them welcome and COM
Portable. The American troops are
the admiration of the nation. They are
fine young fellows, full of pep, and are
CHEEKY and admirably disciplined, our
allies were astonished at the excellent
discipline that prevailed in an army
so recently organized. The army Is
now evidently well handled and the
unity of command is bringing fine re-
suits.
las to the termination Of tho war !
am. convinced that the wiscst ard most
responsible statesmen are no better
prophets than the first man in the
street. The real truth is that We are
surrounded by forces which transcend
the powers of understanding. and no
prophecy can be Of the slightest value
For instance. the most extraordinary
and romantic EXPEDITION of the C2echo-
slovaks could surely not have been
counted upon, and yet it may largely
have turned the fate Of Eastern
Europe. Diplomatic calculations and
combinations entered into prior 10 the
Russian revolution have com" to
naught by reason of that extraordinary
movement, and tomorrow We might see
a complete social upheaval in Austria
Hungary which would render nugaiory
all theories we might adopt today as
to the probable termination OF the
war.
Il am. however, confident on one
point-trat the American people can
and should make every effort to ter
inmate the war within a year or eight
cen months. Every effort Of this great
nation must be brought to bear now
to shatter German power, both moral
and physical. so that reasonable and
Just terms of peace may become pos
sible.
THE enemy will make every effort
to. prove to his people that the -\iiles
are waging war o. determination.
should they succeed in this the war
might last for a long time. on the
other hand. if Erowingly influential
sections OF the German people begin
to, understand the truth. the whole
structure may become so affected
that the nation will insist that a peace
be brought about based on just prin-
ciple."
Asked if such peace would inciuqx
an embargo on exports from Germany
Mr.. CoudGrt declared that there were
some movements dealing with com
bjnation among the nations regarding
raw materials When l speak OF
peace" he added, Il think Of COM
pIete peace. and not merely. the
cessation Of military operations, and
Substitute therefore of economic war
fare Many persons advocate such
policy. but few seem to realize that II
is merely method Of continuing the
war indefinitely. substituting virtual
blockade for bullets. II this becomes
necessary. let us at least not deceive
ourselves as to the nature of such a
situation, Il Great Britain, France
and the United States could make an
agreement regarding raw materials by
which all nations which concerned to
81 ;7+a a-iCral de-
cency might be allotted their fair pro-
portion. we might we'll have an econ
onic basis for a peace league. Unless
the economic interests can work slde
BY side with sentiments Of right and
Justice the outlook for any successful
peace league IS not brilliant
THE struggle for raw materials and
for markets may not be eliminated.
but. at least, between the United
States and Great Britain. and France.
it should be SO far eliminated that
these three nations may have no seri-
! Gus cause Of friction, and may on eco
nomic questions present united front.
y"Inability to reach this complete
sympathetic understanding might
make the great sacrifices of the war
almost nugatory. II appears today
that the most beneficent results Of the
struggle will be the complete coop
Grafton, both for peace and for war,
between the English speaking and the
French people the world over. and this
co-operation will never be surely and
permanently effected until causes OF
economic rivalry are :nin!m!zed. Other
nations could then be dealt with on a
lust basis, and WIN enough Of the
great powers cooperating smaller ma
fions inclined to war could be curoed
by denial of raw materials.