The Washington times., 1916-04-21
ARusslAs ARMY IA FRANCE

the real significance OF the announce
ment that a Russian army has been
landed In France. Berlin will assume
that II means that France is nearing
the exhaustion Of her human re-
serves, and has been compelled to
call for aid from whatever quarter
could send II. Further, Berlin viii
assume that Britain ought logically
TO have sent these troops, from the
two millions or more that IL still has
In the tight little island.
Why should q great feet Of trans
ports be sent third the circumfer-
ence OF the globe, to land q force at
Marseilles, while Britain han vast
forces, or claims TO have them, with
in few hours Of French soil?
The movement Of these troops was
accomplished without the outside
world getting an inlling Of what was
happening. Possibly the Berlin war
office, through its secret service, had
information of such q shift Of forces;
but certainly the general public had
not. Apparently, too, the movement
was complete success; and SEEM
ingly II is now completed, at least
for the time being.
General Joffrs announces in a
somewhat famboyant bulletin the ar
rival Of the Russian brothers, sent as
further proof Of the Cars devotion
to the cause Of France. It is incon-
ceivable that II a stream Of trans
ports were to be continued ferrying
Slavic soldiers over the long, circuit
Gus route around Europe from Arch
angel to the Mediterranean ports Of
France, announcement Of the plan
would be made. It would be an invi-
thtion to German submarines and
fast cruisers to attempt raids which
might result in disaster.
There is no announcement of the
route by which the Russians have
reached France, and it is only con-
jectured that they came from Arch
angel. That, however, is by far the
most plausible explanation. They
might have come by way Of Vladi-
vostok; but there are two reasons
to be urged against this assumption.
First, they would have been in
greater danger, passing through the
Mediterranean and the Suez route,
than making the long swing around
Europe. Second, 1t is probable that
the determination to send them was
reached at the recent economic and
military conference Of the. allies at
Paris; and II SO, the troops could not
have been sent over the long vIadi-
vostok route since that conference
made its decision. .-..N \
The presumption that France is in
desperate need Of more forces on its
hard-pressed lines is not to be taken
too seriously for several reasons,
British Troops could have been sent
and could have taken over the de-
tehse VI Ssiii Whsef sec.loh VI she
trenches, permitting the French to
redouble their strength in the sectors
LETT to them Tor defense. Again, botf
France and Britain have very large
forces in the Near East, which might
have been drawn upon and seemingly
have not been.
1t seems fair then TO conclude tha'
the sending OF Russian forces Il
France is largely for moral and po
litical effect. First, IT is an answel
to charges OF Russian disaffectior
with the cause OF the allies; II may
be a direct answer to some recent ad
vances OF Berlin toward Petrograd
in the effort to arrange separate
peace. Second, 1t Is an avGwal tina
Russia Is now 80 Tar strengthened
and organized that she feels abb
even TO spare some OF her forces, ant
then take care OF herself. The Ger