Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-16

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Series of Russian Disasters.
Looking backward, it will be remem-
bered that beginning with the battle
of GorliceTarnow. the battle of the
Dunajec. as it is also called, there fol-
lowed series of Russian disasters
that covered the whole period from
May l to late August, and only ter
minated when the main Russian army
slipped away from the German en-
veloping forces at and about wilma.
but more particularly told the Ger
man people. that Russia was almost
done, that there would be a separate
peace with Russia in the fall and that
the war would be ended by winter.
Now there is no thought of CRITICS.
ing the German statements; they were
honestly enough made and made on
the basis of reasonable proba bility.
Certainly they had as good founda
tion as any allied forecast of success
which were not realized, and it still
seems as il the Germans were quite
as near to realizing their hopes as
were the British at the Dardanelles.
But the hopes We're not realized
Russia was not put out; she was not
crushed and now she is coming back;
she may win or lose. her offense may
collapse or be pressed successfully,
but the first thing to consider about it
is the effect upon the German people
of the announcement conveyed in Ger
man official statements perfectly
frankly that Russia is vigorously on
the offensive again. 1t means that
perhaps, than ever before in the war.
Allies Fighting in Relays.
The, second detail that is worth con-
sidering rs that the Russian offensive.
breaking upon the Austrians primarily
now. reveals an accidental or calcu-
lated policy-it does not make any
difference which-that should be con-
Apparently the allies are fighting the
central powers by relays, and the re
suit is to give Germany no time for
rest, while the several allied nations
in turn get their respite.
Go back to last spring and it viii be
recalled that while Germany was max
ing her great Russian drive the French
and British opened severe attack IN
Artois. 1t failed of all but purely local
profit, but it strained Germany's mill
tary resources to the limit and pre-
vented the sending to the eastern front
Of corps which might have won the
decision.
All through the summer. Germany
bore the costs of tremendously eX-
pensive campaign in Galicia, Poland
and the Courland. Austrian and Ger
man resources were involved to the
utmost Russia, having done her part,
suffered great defeats ana lost many
thousand square miles of territory,
existence. France and Great Britain
struck the heavy blow, which was the
battle of Champagne and the sussi-
diary fight at Loos. This cost the
allies about 100000 men; it cost, with
the counter attacks and prisoners, at
least as much to the Germans and the
loss of over 200 cannon and $4,000
prisoners.
Situation in Turkey.
Meantime the situation of Turkey
having become such that there was
need to relieve an ally. and the Rus
sian escape having made it essential
to turn the attention of the disappoint-
ed German people elsewhere to new
victories, the Balkan campaign was or
Ganized. But while it was still being
organized Italy began the most ter
rife of her offensives along the lsonzo,
and for several weeks there was fight
ing of the most desperate sort, entail
ing very heavy losses on both sides.
This did not prevent the Balkan
campaign. On the contrary, it was
made with great success. but the de-
struction of the Serbs cost Germany
and Austria some thousands of men.
Thus in the long span between German
victory in Galiaa in May and in the
Balkans in November, Germany and
Austria have had to endure losses at
the hands of Russians, of British, of
French, of Italians and finally of Serb
ians. Now the Russians are doing
their bit again.
The "Wearng Out" Process.
From the outset OF the war it has
been perfectly clear that the advan-
tage of numbers lay with the allied
powers, while that of position lay with
the central powers. Outnumbered two
to one at least, the central powers
were certain to be defeated in the end
if they did not succeed in detaching
some of their opponents from the hos
tile alliance either by victory or bar
gain. 1t is possible to argue as to
when the exhaustion will begin to be
felt, when attrition will defeat the
central powers. but it is not possible to
argue that such process will not
some time become effective.
Roughly speaking. it does not take
more than 100000, at the most A.
men 10 nOlu tne lines occupied
by the central powers. Now. no one
supposes that the losses of the central
powers have yet reached a point where
they cannot find these 100000 men.
But if the French. British, Russian and
Italian armies spread the allied losses
proportionately among four, and the
Turks and Bulgarians may be set off
against the BIRTHS and French colo
NAL and native troops with the Belgians
and Serbians, then the four will run
short of men later than the Germans
and AuStrianS because their resources
in men are two to one larger.
New Russian Offensive.
The great fact that the new Russian
offensive sets forth to the world is
that the process of exhaustion is to be
carried forward. Russia, after some
months devoted to refitting and equip
ping her troops. is ready to go at it
again She may lose her winter cam
paign and be halted where she stands
or forced back out of Galicia alto
gether, but she will kill. wound and
capture many Austrians, losing heavily
herself. But when she has done her
work and fought winter campaign 1t
Is fair to expect that the western allies,
France and Great Britain. will be pre-
pared to make a spring attack. Italy
will be ready to go in again and Rus
STA will be able to rest in her turn.
If the Germans and Austrians, in ad-
dition to attacking the Russians to
check their operations, elect to assail
the allied lines at Saloniki this means
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