War predicted to last for three years

Paris, 9 November 1914 - A high-ranking French military official has predicted that the war will last for three years.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, predicted that the estimated duration of the war - and its ultimate conclusion - was based on the presumption that the Russians would continue to advance on the eastern front. The ‘combined steady pressure’ with the other Allies to the west would ultimately be telling.

He believes the Germans would slowly retreat from the ground they had initially won and that the war would eventually end with the allied armies occupying Berlin.

The official also predicted that there will be no sudden collapse on any front. This appears to be borne out by the series of battles raging across Europe.

Stalemate

Despite Regular claims by both sides to have broken the spirits of the other and to have enjoyed great military successes, it is apparent that neither attack nor counter-attack have materially altered the balance of power. The German advance has been halted - even reversed in places - but there is no sense that defeat is imminent.

This map shows the field of operations in Northern France. Irish Life describes the situation as having experienced 'no material change' with both sides fairly well settled. (Image: Irish Life, 16 Oct 1914. Full collection of Irish Life is available from the National Library of Ireland)

The fighting in Flanders in Belgium this week is said to be the most fierce of the war so far.

Thousands of men have been killed in recent days as both sides have fought to something of a stalemate. Exhausted troops are being withdrawn from the battlefields, while fresh reinforcements are being drafted in.

The fighting - combined with sustained bombardment from artillery - has left heavy casualties on both sides, with the losses around Ypres particularly high.

The worsening weather conditions - including snowstorms - have also created further problems for soldiers. 

Naval battle

Stories are also emerging of a naval battle off Chile with an engagement between British and German forces leading to the sinking of the Monmouth and severe damage to the Good Hope.

The Monmouth, a 10,000-ton armed cruiser, was built at the cost of £1 million. More than 700 men were on board an all are reported to have been lost.