100 years ago in Spokane: Local surgeon back from France predicts World War I to last many more years

Dr. James A. Neff, a former Spokane surgeon who just returned from service in France, predicted that the war in Europe might continue at least five more years.

“Germany isn’t defeated yet, not by a jugful,” he told the Spokane Daily Chronicle. “The time will come, five years or ten or perhaps a little sooner, when the war will end, but it will come only when we develop that spirit of sacrifice which has made the name of France such a precious utterance.”

He spoke what appeared to be hard truths about the U.S. war effort. “We must get down to a war basis and while we do not have to resort to some of the despicable means which Germany is adopting, we must lay aside our sentimentality and everybody everywhere in the allied countries must buckle down and get busy,” he said.

As it turned out, his prediction of five or 10 more years was off by nearly five or 10 years. One reason for that was hinted at by another story on the front page, which said that there would soon be 2.5 million American troops in France.

From the forest fire beat: Four big fires were raging in the Clearwater and Selway regions of Idaho.

“The forest service officials say the situation is critical because of the high winds and dry woods,” said the Chronicle.