ARCHBISHOP O'REILY ON THE WAR.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13732, 22 March 1915, Page 2

ARCHBISHOP O'REILY ON THE WAR.

Dr O'Reily, the genial and universally beloved Archbishop of Adelaide, has been playing the role of war prophet—not willingly, indeed, but perforce, under pressure from the insistent inter-viewer. His Grace does not, of course, claim t>o speak as a military expert; still less does he preteud to any preternatural power of prevision. In addition to his natural gifts as a capable and shrewd observer, ho has, however, certain credentials which entitle, him to speak on the subject, the chief of these being that in his comments and predictions on previous wars—covering the very lengthy period of 3o years —he- has invariably proved a good 'gucss«er. 5

"I hate wars," said his Grace, to the Adelaide "Mail" representative. "If I had my way there would not be one drop of human blood shed in war again.

. . Yet when war comes, in the actual study of the campaign, I find a grim fascination, only equal to the fascination I used to feel in working out complicated mathemetical problems, when I was a growing lad. For certainly 35 years I have followed every campaign with the keenest interest, but almost from the start I had my mind made up as to what the issue was to be. > was often laughed at for my pains. I was often challenged in my statements. Yet I cannot remember —I speak with reluctance but with honesty —that I was even once wrong in my forecasts. Sometimes I allowed a margin in my predictions,-but witJiin that margin my words always proved true." After such a record his Grace's opinion in regard to the outcome and duration of the present war must be' listened to with some measure of respect. On the latter point las opinion is quite definite and decided—the war, Dr O'Reily declares, will gend between October and December of this year.

As to the lines along which the struggle will proceed, and, in particular, as to the development and denouement of the naval situation, the Archbishop is perfectly clear. So far as the latter is concerned three hours will settle it all. After illustrating in homely fashion, the obstacles which make it impossible for Admiral Jellicoe to attack and make an end of the German fleet, his Grace continues: — "The Brandenbur^r fleet has its nest in Kiel Canal. That nest is> .fenced in with mines and torpedoes. Jellicoe .cannot go in. But when the Allies, having crossed the Rhine, begin their advance toward Berlin, -while the French take their way by the south,, the. English and Belgians will advance! ] by the north. The advance will cutj off completely the communication of | the fleet with their capital city. For the Brandenburger fleet there will bej no reinforcements, no fresh supplies of provisions or ammunition. The Brandenburger fleet will peforce leave ii-s ncist. Then will come a three hours' fight and the fleet's history will be over. .Some of the ships will -flutter back with broken wings to the shelter of their guns and of their loved torpedoes; some will go to "the-"bottom; some', manned by English sailors, anU

commanded by English officers, will be next heard of when they make fast to the Admiralty wharves at Rossyth, Sheerness, or Devonport. When next they go to sea they will go flying the white ensign with tho stately cross of St. George displayed thereon." 'We think the three hours' estimate is rather optimistic ; "but for the rest there is a- smack of reasonableness and [probability about these predictions,

and it will be by no means matter for surprise if, whon December comes .rtamd, it is found that tho Archbishop has made a fresh addition to his laurels