The Washington times., 1915-01-04
.LETHARCY |SL|KELY
IN WINTER MONTHS
French Campaign Probably Will
Show Little Change, Says
Correspondent.
By WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMs.

WITH THE FRENCH ARMY AT
THE FRONT, Dec. 14.-CBy mail to
New York.)--I have the distinct i'm
preston that the French, English, and
German armies will remain pretty much
where they are until we'll into next
spring, and that but for occasional and
sometimes possibly bloody encounters in
this, the western thcater Of the war,
most Of the action will come in the
region Of the Russian frontier. until that
time.
From what I have seen Of the allies
preparation back Of tho actual f,ghting
line. for the Germans to make much
headway south seems to be impossible.
Also. by reading between the lines. I
gather that the allies are quite satisfied
with the situation as II is. Officers are
iirmlv convinced that Germany is daily
growing weaker. while their own side is
growing stronger every day. They say
they can afford to play a waiting game
ard let Germany do the costly attack
ing. Germany. they insist. yearns to
strike telling blow at the earliest pos
sible moment, because she realizes that
every moment lost leaves her that much
weaker in men. money. munitions. and
food.
Claim the Advantage.
Another thing which pleascs the
s.rategists here is the extended battle
line. hundreds Of miles long. They claim
this places the Germans at a capital
disadvantage. DESTROYS Of forcing a de-
cisive action. the Kaiser's forces ap-
rarently cannot do SO because. stretched
out over such extended territory. the
necessary concentration 10 out OF the
question. At the same time, to shorten
h. battle line would expose the tanks
to the allies offensive.
Here every officer I meet Is all smiles
Al the beginning Of the war II must be
confessed there was more or less un.
rasiness among the military. This is al
changed now. and on all sides one meets
with the utmost confidence in the fina
outcome OF the war.
The impression here seems to be
that the war will be rather a long
one. Everywhere see preparations
which lend emphasis to this belief
behind the lines the French organizs =
ton has been perfect!ng itself until
at the moment it is running with the
precision Of a well-oiled piece Of ma :
chinery. The system of revictualing
the army and keeping it supplied
for evacuating the wounded. and gen
orally the whole administration OF
the army is now organized as though
the war Is permanent institution
destined to last for all time.
Simply Block Blows.
! In short, the allies are perfectly
prepared to play . waiting game II
appearance counts for anything.
feel sure they are of the opinion tha
they can wear Germany down, and
sooner or later, at a moment they
judge opportune, strike the decisive
blow. Until that time I believe they
will content themselves with block
| ing Germanys blows. knowing tha'
each blow uses up that umch powe,
ana makes her by Just that mucf
! easier to master when the final hour
arrives
Germany, am convinced. is play
ing into the allies hands whether an,
! Wills II or not. Like a person cauoh
In quickmire. the more she struR
giles the deeper she sinks into thu
sands and the quicker.
| Germany may try to decide thing.
this winter, but she can scarcely sue
ceed. Perhaps along the Russia,
frontier somewhere during the colo
weather telling action NAV h.
fought, but otherwise there promise,
to be lull in the fighting, not {
complete cessation. until the sal
rises. Then may commences the be
ginning Of the end.