That the Entente Allies, by the greatness and efficiency of their military preparations and by their wonderful financial strength, will push the European war to a complete victory regardless of the cost in life and treasure, is the opinion expressed by Joseph G. Butler, President of the American Pig Iron Association, on his arrival here today on board the steamship Philadelphia' of the American line, from Liverpool. Mr. Butler was a member of the American Industrial Commission which went abroad late in August to study economic conditions in France, and hence had excellent opportunities to see the great military preparations being made by France. He was one out of the twelve members of the commission who returned today by the Philadelphia. A Vast Military Camp "All France is a vast military camp," he said, "and her people from the President down are deadly in earnest and determined to continue their victories regardless of the cost in life and treasure. England is fully as much in earnest as France and has buckled down to the task of winning the fight for civilization, as Mr. Lloyd George phrased it in an interview I had with him in Paris. "I firmly believe that the Allies will win. I feel certain that the Kaiser and the Prussian military authorities realize that they have lost and are casting about for some means of bringing the war to a close, hoping that better terms can be obtained now than later on. The German people must sooner or later learn the real condition of affairs, and then I believe they will make themselves heard in no uncertain manner. Will Never Let Up "The battle of the Marne settled the controversy in favor of France and her allies," he continued. "Earl Kitchener predicted a three-year war, and I believe he did not underestimate it. "The Allies will never let up until they have won a complete and final victory. "I am more convinced of this now than I have been on the ground and learned first hand not only of their complete equipment of men and munitions, but also of their wonderful financial strength. We in America know altogether too little of the astonishing richness of both England and France, and the sooner we wake up to our opportunities and encourage in every way the increasing of our trade with them the better off we will be." I reached home early Monday morning glad to be again in my native town. Before landing I had written an account of the French steel industry in war-time and had obtained permission from Mr. Nichols, as Chairman, to make an advance publication of this document in the Iron Age and the Iron Trade Review. I had in mind that something of this kind would be expected by my fellow steel manufacturers, and if we waited until the full report of the Commission was made, the information would be stale. This article appeared in many of the trade journals and is republished in the chapter following. XIX. THE FRENCH STEEL INDUSTRY IN WAR TIME