The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1915-07-29

they hold also the crossing of that
river Therefore, Germany, having
seized these bridges, could render
Russian offensive impossible for at
least some time.
And not only that. Germany could
and would dig herself in, and, just as
she has done in the west, in order to
make possible her gigantic movement
against Russia, hold the Russians i'm
check behind the VistuIa with COM
paratively small forces, while the re-
mainder OF her forces could be with
drawn for use against France against
Italy, and against the forces in the
Dardanelles. The Allies in these lat
ter fields would then be subjected to
a renewed German Offense compared
to which all former operations would
sink into insignificance.
In the western theatre there has
been nothing of Importance on which
to comment. The only operation Of
note has been renewed French at
tack in the Vosges mountains in the
vicinity of Metzeral along the Fecht
river. This movement has been con-
tinuous during almost the entire
week and it is entirely possible that
large operation of some kind is un-
der way.
The probability of this is heighten-
ed by the extreme activity of the
French air scouts in this section. The
only possible way of injecting into
the situation on the western front
the element of surprise Is through
control of the air-otherwise any
shifting of large forces of troops or
concentration Of heavy artillery
forces would be so readily discerned
that the object of the movement
could be easily frustrated.
The Allies in the west appear to
have matters in the air very much
their own way. A strong allied air
fleet has been making numerous raids
on Colmar, and at the same time the
activity of the French on the Metz
eral-Colmar line, which line is the
valley Of the Fecht river, has been
very marked.
Elsewhere along the French line
things have been quiet, except of
course for the sporadic fighting of
small units which is always going on
The initiative in all cases has been
taken by the French, the Germans
having probably withdrawn as many
men as possible from the western
front for their great operation in the
east.
HI tHiS COhhcttlOn reports from
Russia show that there Is a feeling in
Russia that the Allies I'm the west are
not doing their share, but are per-
mitting Russia to bear the brunt OF
the German attack. They state that
Russia has relieved the pressure
when her western allies were being
pushed, as at the battle of the Marne, |
and that, now that the Russian stu |
alton Is desperate, the western allies |
should DO something to cause a diver !
sion and withdrawal OF part OF the
German forces now in front of War |
saw.
The criticism Is not without reason.
The Germans on the western front |
must be greatly Outnumbered, and 1t |
would seem that, at this juncture,
when German success I'm the east Is |
certain to mean great increase i'm |
the German line i'm the west, a tre-
mendous effort really to break
through the German line at some
point would be justified almost re-
gardiess of the cost I'm men.
The attack in the Vosges noun
tains does not indicate anything on
so large scale. 1t will be interest
ing to note during the coming week
what the French and English will do
toward diverting attention from War
saw For 1t Is almost certain that IL
Germany can hedge Russia In behind
the Vistula, Russia may be disregard
ed as an offensive force for some
time, and the lines in the west will
have to bear the brunt of attacks
from a greatly reinforced enemy.
In the Italian theatre the week has
seen the blazing out Of the real ItaI-
Ian Offense. Italy apparently is now
satisfied that all the passages by
means OF which Austria could pour
troops to attack her rear are effec-
lively stopped and has therefore be-
gun a determined advance along the
!sonzo front from Jarvis to the Adri-I
attic. with the object of breaking
down completely Austria's first defen-
'ive screen. The battle is, as is nat
lral, centering around Gorilla.
Once Gorilla falls, the Italian
problem, insofar as Trieste is con-
,erned, will be near solution. The
italians have made notable advances
N Cadnra m olA khn L