Herr von Kuhlmann, the German Foreign Secretary, in the course-
of a long speech in the Reichstag on Monday, seems to have astonished the Deputies by asking whether the war would last' 1920. He denied that the Government had never reckoned on a - very long war, and quoted Field-Marshal von eldoltke's prediction of 1890 that if the Great Powersesame to Moen, none of them could be completely beaten in two or 'three campekiels. He referred to the increase of armaments and.to.the entry of America and Japan into the conflict as if these 'facts 'confirmed the Field-Marshal's view. He went on to say that " an absolute end can hardly be expected through purely military decisions alone, without any diploniatic negotiations." This, of course, was a fiat contradiction of .the opinions expressed by the German Emperor and by Marshals Hindenburg and Ludendorff in messages given out for publication since the German, offensive began. The Emperor and his Marshals have assured the German people that their Armies would force the Allies to make peace this year. Herr :von virtually admits that this is impossible. His speech was so violently criti- cized by the Pan-Germans that on Tuesday he had to- enlist the support of the Chancellor, and to eeplain for his own part that he was not asking for a pease offer from Great Britain. But he did not withdraw his damaging admission.
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