The Washington times., 1916-09-26
ALLIES ECONOMIC PRESSURE

soldiers and sailors in its forces
now, according to the best advices,
and is discussing the necessity for
raising another million in order to
keep reserves up to the point Of
absolute assurance in the face of any
situation that may arise.
The British and French are per-
sistently demonstrating their supe-
riority of force on the western front.
The eastern and near eastern situa-
tions are not SO clear; yet the Rus
sian offensive has been resumed, and
the Dobrudja campaign Of the Ger
mans and Bulgarians appears to
have been checked. On the west, Of
which the outside world gets a bet
ter view than of any other fighting
area, the procedure Of the allies is
coming to be pretty well understood.
They make a push in force, seize a
line of trenches and few villages,
tighten their grip, and Withstand
the counter-attacks of the Germans.
Then comes a few days of quiescence
while dispositions are made, artil-
lery brought up. and everything
prepared for the next push.
After that the artillery is turned
loose to smash up another sector Of
enemy trenches in preparation for
the advance of the infantry. The
air forces have large part in this
work, because they are the eyes of
the army; they direct artillery fire,
gather information as to the move
ments behind the enemy lines, pick
out the places that offer most prom
Use of success in big assault. The
enemy air service seeks to prevent
these observations; and SO, on the
eve of big assault, there is always
a period Of intense activity in the
air. Yesterdays dispatches from the
front told Of day Of the most BIT
ter overhead fighting since the war
started; today's describe the big
push that was forecast by that great
battle Of the aviators.
It is admitted by many Of the
authorities in both England and
France, that gains are being made
slowly, and at a cost that is terrific
in proportion. Whether the pace can
be continued to the time when def
mite victory will have been achieved,
is beginning to be a question in the
minds even Of men most determined
and most willing to make necessary
sacrifices.
As q matter Of fact, the military
campaign that the allies are waging
Is not their only one. It may be
doubted whether, In It's effect on the
Germans, military and civil to-
gether, 1t is the most useful part of
their campaign. The blockade, the
shutting up of Germany, the eco
nomic pressure, constitutes Just as
important part of the operation,
and possibly a more important.
Control Of the sea is Tightening
the grip on the central empires. The
allies are determined to risk any
thing of foreign complications,
rather than give up their advantage
in this direction; and they are, from
their own standpoint, which knows
no end other than winning the war,
right.
Private and diplomatic reports
alike indicate that the economic
strain is telling fearfully in Ger
many; perhaps quite as much in
Austria, though in a different way.
Austria has food problem; but SO
long as Hungary is open, it's food
problem will not be SO serious as
that of Germany. Even Vienna
hotels announce that guests must
bring their own bread! If Vienna is
feeling the pressure to such an ex-
tent as is here indicated, Germany,
despite superior organization, must
be even nearer to food exhaustion,
It started with the realization that
it would probably end as a war of
economic exhaustion. The end is get
ting more apparent than ever be-
fore. II may take years In the reach
snx. hat khA pAaI l. AI-s-