Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-06-16
London Expects Franco.
British Move on Often
sive Shortly
is HINTED BY FRANCE
Semi Officials Communication Says
Time is Ripe For Allies to Again
Attack Their Enemies

London, June 16-Signification is
attached to a sentence embodied IN
semi-official French communica-
ton received in London. inasmuch as
it seems to draw the attention of the
public to what is considered the seri-
Gus failure of Germany's recent
strategy.
| at seems, since the Vaux affair"
the sentence reads, "that the Ger
mans fronting Verdun are main
| tanning an attitude of expectation
over the menace of events which they
feel are becoming increasingly immi-
nent ."
This statement is generally inter-
preted, in the light of public eXpec-
tation, that the time is rapidly ap-
preaching. for an important Entente
allied offensive.
Prof. Albert F. Pollard, Of the chair
of English history in the University
of London, lecturing here on the
progress of the war, said he antici-
pated great offensive by the Enten-
te Allies on the eastern front be-
fore long, but that the people must
not expect the war to end before
next year. The utmost to be hoped
for this year, he said, was the de-
feat of Austria, virtual settlement
of the Balkan difficulty and the driv-
ing back of the Germans a conside-
rable distance on the western front.
The final defeat Of Germany could
only come some time. next year, the
speaker added, after winter of dis
content such as Germany had never
known and after another naval bat
tie.
Professor Pollard's anticipations re-
fleet the prevalent ideas. in London
The view is held here that Germany
made a serious mis- take in strategy
when she permitted Austria to with
draw half of her effectives from the
Russian front for the operations
against Italy, after having brought
her own reserves from the Russian
front to Verdun, which apparently
has had the result of enabling Rus
sia to make a surprisingly successful
drive in Galicia and Volhynia. 1t is
further considered that the recent
naval battle deprived Germany tenn
porarily Of the means for prosecuting
d combined military and naval offen-
sive in the Riga region, and thus.
countering the Russian drive, which
it now is expected is likely to 90 on:
to fresh successes, as it is believed
it will be extremely difficult to re-
! inforcc the Teutonic allies on the'
Russian front.
Reading the French semi official COM;
| municaticn in connection with the re.
cent presence of General Joffre and
the French minister in London and
Premier Asquith's announcement on
Wednesday of the proffered British
help to the French, the public are
looking forward to coming events
with curiosity and confidence.
According to reports received in
London the German and, Austrian
governments are making desperate
efforts to conceal the truth about the
Russian drive from their people. The
telief prevails here that weeks must
clapse before the Austrians are able
to withdraw forces from the Italian
front for the defense of Lemberg and
that it may then be too late.
According to special dispatches
from Petrograd, the Russians are
withholding their strength on the
center and are driving hard west
ward an both tanks. 1t is believed
in Pctroerad, according to these disc
patches, that the further Develop
ment of General Brussiloff's victory
will depend largely on the progress
of RuSsia's western allies general
strategic plans. The Entente Allies
now are all in touch by wireless and
their coordination in strategy has
Preached point never before achiev-
ed in the course Of the war; .,.a.