EUROPE'S WAR VIEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 62, 13 March 1915, Page 6

EUROPE'S WAR VIEWS.

AGREE THAT PEACE IS A LONG WAY OFF. 2,000,000 MEN SLAIN. The European war began six months ago to-day. It has already lasted longer than any war on the continent of Europe in more than a century. It has already cost nearly two million lives and at least £1,000.000,000 of treasure, not counting destruction of property and homes. The International Xevvs Service lias endeavoured to obtain by cable b> the best informed military and civil authorities, from military experts, eminent editors and. economist* of all the belligerent nations estimates of the situation to date and the pros{ject3 for the future, especially whether there is any prospect of early peace. "GERMANS ALREADY BEATEN." By LORD XORTUCLIFFE (Proprietor of the "London Times", bhe London "Daily Mail," the London "Daily News" and other papers, who has recently returned from a visit to Flanders). London. .Tatruary 30.—Little more than a month ago, when you asked mc what I thought of the war, 1 replied to the effect that for a long time the German* had made no advance on Calais or on Paris, and that if their Kiel canal fleet came out Lord Fisher would get it. He ihas punished some of it already. I went over to look at the Germane in Flanders Inst week and found that they were rather farther from Calais than when 1 last communicated with you. !I possess no military knowledge, but in my humble opinion Germany's army had about as much chance of getting to Calais as it has of getting to Chicago. 8o far, Uks only thing accomplished by the German military machine, after forty yeara of preparation, is the temporary poasctssion of the tiny country of Belgium, and, with a fragile and costly grip, part of France. It 'will be a long, long war, but the Germans were beaten ac far back as August last. Some of us are wondering what will happen when the German government permits the truth, to leak out. NO HOPE OF EARLY PEACE. By. AMBASSADOR DUMB A (Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to the United States). Washington, January 30.—1 regret that 1 am barred by my instructions from giving interviews, but I avail myself of this opportunity to tell you that 1 am perfectly satisfied with the situation in the western and eastern battlefields and absolutely confident with regard to the final guenasa of our arms. Unfortunately there is no prospect of an curly peace. FEARS WRONG IXTER'PBJBTATIO.V. By COUNT YON BERSTQRFF (German Ambassador to the United States.) If I My it U going to be a long war, I will be quoted immediately all over the country v saying, " Germany wanted the war." If I aay it w going to he a short war, it will be stated immediately that Germany want* peace; so it is absolutely impossible lor mc to c«y anything for publication without hiring what I cay tnisconstraed. RUIN AND KtoIUISG ONLY. By GEORGE BERNARD SHAW. London, January 30. — The result* have been mainly the mo«t deckuve of all possible results for an immense number of individuals. Further you have 'bullied us into paying you for contraband, a very proper result, and one which incidentally proves that neutrality is a figment, and that no nation can be really neutral in a modern war. Ako Germany Ihas secured the resulta of her first rush, the conquest of Belgium and of Iflllc, the (French Manchester. But since the war ban really settled down to business there have been, apart from the constant killing and devastating, no results at all. It is an if the battle of Waterloo were still raging with the French unvanquished, the English and Prueeiane still stonewalling and Napoleon and Wellington sending every fortnight for another hundred thousand men to 'be destroyed by machinery. It is said that war will begin in earnest in the spring, but nobody can suggest anything more than has already been done to the utmost of human effort without success. It weme pautblo that unless the socalled neutral nations, or possibly the Pope, (by a bill of excommunication of all the combatants until they come to Canotwa and settle their differences civilly), shall insist on th e war stopping, the year 3015-may still ccc your papers hopefully announcing that the left I>«nk of the Yuer is almost clear of Germans, and the German papers declaring that the fifty metreg of trenches lost day before yesterday in the Soissong district have been heroically recaptured. I have still an open mind ac to the possibility of victories under modern conditions; but I am not so sure of it as I was in August. GERMANY LOSING EARLY ADVANTAGE. By ANTHONY HOP£. London, January 30. — 1 urn a mere civilian, and in no way an expert in military affairs, but in my judgment, which I give for what it is worth, the advantage enjoyed by Germany at the beginning of the war, owing to her greater preparedness, is now disappearing, wM e the Allies gradually are bringing their full forces to bear. As this process continues. I believe, long and arduous as the struggle will be, success will incline to the arms of the Allies on land, provided they are able to maintain the command of the sea and this we have »t present good ground for hoping that they will be able

LOOKS FOR LONG WAR. By GENERAL BERTHAUT (Former Member of the War Council of France). Paris, January 30. —The greatest satisfaction prevails in oflkial circles in Pane concerning the Allies' (Situation. There its a feeling that we have achieved more than -we have expected. Those who have access to the official circles are surprised that the French losses arc co email compared with those of the Germane. Should Italy and Rumania continue neutral tire war will last long months. Neither France nor Germany can afford to risk a decisive battle in the «pen at this moment, ac the massacre would ibe too appalling. It will continue to be a trench war until Germany ie forced to yield on account of shortness of munitions, food and money. •GERMANS TO SEEK PEACE." By BARON D'ESTOURNELLES DE CONSTANT (Member of French Senate and Foremost Economic Writer of France). Paris, January 30.—1 have always been against the war, but since it was declared it must continue until the Prussian military eyetem is crushed; otherwise, war will recur every five years hence. France is not weakening. The German people will not be long in awakening to t-he mistake into which their Government has led them. They will then demand an immediate peace in order not to be compelled to conclude a costlier peace later. CONAN DOYLE SEES VICTORY. By SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. London. January 30. —In anewer to your question, 1 think the first six months of the war have been occupied in establishing an equilibrium. After the flrst rueh. of a fully prepared enemy against unprepared or half-pre-pared antagonists, I think th>e equilibrium, now gradirally, or possibly swift, will change to a German recoil, and that the victory of the Allies, who steadily grow stronger, « absolutely assured. Suppliee of war material will influence tin? rwult ac much ac eupplice of men. LOSSES ARE HEAVY. By the HON. SIR E. R. FREEMANTLE (Admiral in the British Navy). London. January 30.—The resulta of thp war up to the present have been won on the whole eatwfalctory to the Allies. The losses have been heavy on both, eidwi. but unquestionably the German powers of initiative, on which they depend /or success, have failed. Their orre triumph wae the conquest of Belgium, and their conduct both in that country and in France has earned the execration of the civilised world. At eea their losses hare been much greater than those of the Allies, and the command of llie sea is in the tatter's ! bands. hi endeavouring to reduce the handicap the Germane have not scrupled to lay mines and to use submarines indiscriminately which, in the North Sea, have sunk 46 neutral and 50 Britieh ships. The contraband question and the Dacia may cause come ill-feeling between America and the AUi««, but .while England is fighting lor her life and her enemy doe* not hesitate to use lor her own purposes or destroy any opponent*' property in her power, the command of the «ea cannot be exercised with too strict an adherence to, the rules mad* in peace time. Although it must be and will be exer* cisi'd with couifmy and discrimination, it is not possible for England to foigo her right* of search nor, as it ■eenw to mc, in it politic for, America to ignore the fact that in her own wee were she at war, the power on which ahe would mainly depend lor defence would be weakened by her action At the present time. Let mc hope that no serious difficulties will occur between kindred nations who have juat completed one hundred yearn of peace. There can, I think, be little doubt of the uKimate success of the Alliw, but he would bo a bold man who would undertake to forecast when the war will come to an end. afON TO BERLIN." By GEN. SIR ALFRED TURNER, Officer in British Army. London, January 30.—The war in the wesit is a stalemate at pment, because General Joffre wisely will net threw away the lives of hie men. The French Commander-in-chief could thrnst the enemy back into Germany if he were willing to sacrifice enough liven. There i» no necessity for this and no burr} , . The RuMiam are, as Yon Moltke aaid, too utrong for any Power when they really come, and their coming will take off the German pressure in the went, ao I that the advance of the Allies in that direction on Berlin will be poM<bh without intolerable sacrifices on land. Germany m beaten, but not yet finished. At «ea she is in s mxtfh worve condition. The Russian fleet is improving every day, and treading or Germany*! tail very eensibjy. The situation i« altogether favourable. Nothing can save Germany but a rising revolt againet the criminal lunatic and hie evil gang who govern her, and who are hurling her to destruction. FAMINE IS GERMANY'S PERIL. (By GABRIEL HANOTAUX, Former Foreign Minister of France. Paris, January 30.—Yon Berhardi cays an entrenched army finds it almost impossible to paes from the defensive to the offensive. That its the position of the German army after six months of warfare. The enemy is exhausted; tire more stubbornly lie attacks, the greater liis loesee. Forced into thie position by the Allies, he cannot escape the demoralisation of famin-e which will reduce 'him. In the Mill victory iR certain fnv the 'Allies.