The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-03
NO CRISIS EXISTS
Hale Says English Stories
About Germany Untrue.
Central Powers Confident They
Can Hold Their Own.
ALLIES OFFENSIVE HALTS
French and English Losses
Greater Than Reported.
Ground Gained Hardly Suffi-
cient to Bury the Dead.
BY WILLIAM BAYARD HALE.

Berlin, Aug 3.-Cut off as Berlin is
from free communication with the |
world, the report has reached this
capital of widespread belief of the
existence Of a military crisis for the
central empires. The simple fact is
that no one in all Germany is aware
of such a crisis.
Since the first week of the great
English offensive, no real apprehen-
sion has existed regarding it Last
week developed a stupenduous effort
on colossal scale but the results
leave Germany in the unimpaired pos
session of her front.
An exhaustive review of the mill
tary situation laid before me by an
unimpeachable authority forces the
conclusion that Germany enters into
the third year of war with her lines
in the east and west firmly intact.
Lines Not Denied.
Early in July the maneuvers by the
English and French yielded small
gain of territory, but not sufficient
even to make as much as a dent in
the German front They were appar-
emily only the prelude of the gigantic
| mass attacks launched on July 20, %
and "a, which constituted the biggest
military action of the entire war, with
more than a million men engaged on
| all Sides In this three days fighting
| the English and French forces, the
former heavily predominating numeri-
cally, have paid an appalling toll of
| lives, rushing into the German ma
chine gun fire and then beating re-
| treat under the whitening German ar
| tillery fire.
The attacking forces in the shape of
| a wedge attempted to crush the Ger
man circle built up with wonderful
artillery and machine gun positions.
1t is doubtful whether Americans have
1 H., 14rl
French losses. 1t is commonly be-
lieved here that General Haig has
fifty-two divisions and that all of them
passed through this fire and are now
being reconstructed.
The allies loss in three days fight
ing will exceed 10000.
The Germans reason that the defen-
sive fighting with artillery and ma
chine guns enables them to operate
with great economy in human
| forces.
At verdun the Germans are steadily
pounding their way forward and the
fall of Souville fort, which is only a
matter of a short time, will mean the
automatic falling of the eastern front
of Verdun and its capitulation I. is
estimated that half of the entire
French army is fighting at verdun for
a forlorn hope. $50
The German front in the east Is in
tact, Hindenburg's whole line being as
| immune today as it was last Noyern-
Der. This front is not worrying any
one in Germany.
Fighting in Volhynia and GaIicia is
going on with varying fortunes The
Russians succeeded in embarrassing
the Austrian army front but any be-
lief that the Russians are likely to be
able to turn the tables on the Teu-
tons and penetrate far beyond the
lCarpathians is sheer nonsense.
Russ Gains Insignificant.
1t must not be overlooked that the
Russians largely are recapturing only
part of their own territory held hy the
Austrians. The Russian gains here
are purely of local significance Ind
without any bearing on the military
situation at large.
| The Austro-Itali.-n front is unchang-
ed, the Austrians building lines firm
ly and not intending to attempt any
important offensive.
The feeling here and in Vienna as
regards that front is void of any UNI
, easiness.
The outstanding feature of the mill
tary situation today for Germany lies
: m the circumstances that on the west
/ ern front the crisis has passed with
out the allies having been able to
force a decision in their favor after
a gigantic effort and the heaviest
casualties of the war. The ground
gained is barely sufficient in dimen-
: sions to bury their dead.
. The blow aimed glanced off and
: the breaking through that was at
l tempted has now deteriorated isto Z
mere pressure on the German front