Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-08
Spring Offensive of the Allies

D EPORTS from London that the allies i'll
N the west are awaiting the issue of the
Russian onslaughtS in the Carpathians and
on the hungarian plain. and that the long
talkedof spring offensive in France and
Flanders may be abandoned. make strange
reading. 1t is difficult to credit that there
will be such complete reversal of allied
policy. which only considerations of com
handing potency would authorize.
Despite British gains at Neuve Chapelle
and French advances east of Nerdun and
around ST. Mihiel. the Germans are yet in
possession of nearly one-siXth of France and
OF nearly the whole OF Belgium. For
months allied hopes have pointed to the
spring, and been upheld by promises that
clearing weather would be followed by
vigorous offensive. The enormous sacrifices
that have been made by the French people,
as we'll as by the Belgians, have been borne in
the expectation that earnest attempt was
TO be made to drive the invader from their
soil
Expectations OF this kind will not be
quoted by Russian successes in the east
however considerable The French or Bel
gian peasant, driven from his farm and fight
ing for his country will derive only vicarious
satisfaction from the announcement that the
plains of Hungary some sections of East
Prussia have been overrun by Russian arms
His passion is for victory somewhat nearer
home.
Abandonment OF the western offensive
would involve heavy blow to allied pres
tige 1t would be in sense d confession of
weakness. II would mean that the re-
endorsements that have been brought I'D by
the French and the landing in France of
enormous detach ments Of Kitchener's new
army had served merely to preserve the bal
ance Of the contending forces. on that long
battle line which stretches from Switzerland
to the The British leaders, famous
statement that the war will begin in May"
would gain the undesira BILE notoriety of al
exploded prophecy.
1t is all scarce credible, on the basis of
such understanding of the situation as we
on this side the ocean may derive from the
visible facts. The theory might gain sup
port from the tremendous British hullabaloo
over the liquor problem and the shortage of
munitions alleged TO result therefrom, did
not the world remember similar outcry six
months ago over the alleged slackness in
enlistments. Despite that almost hysterical
performance. Britain has raised, equipped
aud trained a volunteer army OF 100000
men-an exploit scarce para leed within
like time in the history OF civilized war
Remembering this. most persons will be in
cHned 10 take the ammunition row with sew
eral grains OF salt.
The fact is, the London announcement
that the proposed offensive in France and
Flanders may he abandoned is little bit too
public and ingenious. The liquor and am
munition furore wears something OF the same
aspect. Both appear designed TO encoura &c
the German purpose TO withdraw troops from
the to assist the harried Austrians in
the east Ii in the next month there is re-
vealed no aggressive purpose to break
through the fortified line the Kaiser has
erected. the world will be astonished and
allied hopes seriously depressed