The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-29
France More Cheerful Now as
to Outcome.
Sees Crisis of Exhaustion
Dawning on TeutOns.
GERMANY PREPARED IS YEARS
women and Girls Join to Make
Allies Munitions.
Verdun Notable Achievement
Says Review of War.

Doris July 29-"The second year
49,. T,,a, ends with anxiety shifting
from the group of the entente powers
% that of our adversaries VINO are
now Obliged to meet a general com
hined offensive on every front salo
nfaro,,is de Chambrun, a member Oh
the foreign affairs committee OF the
rbamber of deputies, in summarizing
he military situation for The Asso-
sa+sd PRESS at the close of the wars
Second year.
.NWhiie French, British and Rus
aan preparations become more com
plete. a crisis of exhaustion IS .ase
arisinp for the Austrians and Ger
mr. adversaries thought it
1ould be impossible for us to pre-
Sare. and certainly during the nrst
vear of the war there were dithcultles
hat had to be overcome. we are
6roud to say that this was accom-
nlfshed even while our valiant soldiers
were resisting the German INVASION
Thanks to the patriotism OF the couil,
e-v and the abnegation shown by all
classes in France and England; thanks
also to the campaign in both couh-
tf-ies for more cannon and more am
fhunition, industrial action was every
Where multiplied and General Joffre
was able to say in order OF tne oaS
10 the army at Verdun, we nave 1nu-
nitions in abundance
Submarines, PiraticaI Harm Only.
THE Austrians and Germans resort
ed to submarine warfare, which Will
not attempt to qualify. 1t may con-
tinue to work harm in plraucal
form, but it will not open ports nor
Further the commercial aims ana
needs of the central empires. now ef-
fectively blockaded, nor will 1T re-
store to Germany her lost colonies.
p '"The Russians are continuing their
work successfully on the eastern front.
y They have again invaded Bukowina
md are pushing forward in the region
Df Iutsk and into the Carpathians,
Nhile Grand Duke Nicholas is ad-
varcing VIGOROUSLY in the Caucasus
The closer one examines the SIT
Nation the more manifest becomes
1hc anticipated ascendency of tho
Allies, increasing as time goes on be-
cause of their unrestricted resources
and unsEaken confidence in victory
From various critics and experts on
military affairs expressions have been
obtained from which the military sit
nation, according to the French view,
may be summarized as follows:
Sheer Hcroism Saved France.
The extent of the difficulties of the
Central empires does not even now
appear from the state of the war as
Viewed from a geographical stand
point, but has shown itself in the
changed tactics in evidence and is be-
coming obvious in the altered map.
The operations of the Franco-Rritish
armies, outrumbered in men and guns
during the first six months, saved
France by sheer heroism, but could
not end the war; could only prolong it
and gain time. The Russians pushed
into East Prussia, conquered BukO-
wilma, invaded Galicia, crossed the
Carpathians and even threatened
Silesia, but exhausted their arma mert
In April, 1915, and lacked even the
Essentials for defense.
The Germans knew it would be inn
possible for Great Britain and France
TO have caught up in nine months
with the Germans As years prepare
lions and felt themselves free, dealing
first with France, to turn upon the
Russian armies. Nine divisions trans
ported from the Franco British front
reinforced the Austrians, and the Of
fensiVe against the Austrians began in
May. BY the end of July Przemysl
And Lemberg had been retaken and
the Russians were considering the
abandonment of Warsaw and the line
Of the Vistula. Short even of rifles
many of Emperor Nicholas troops
nefended themselves with clubs during
the long retreat in which was accom-
plished the second miracle of the war
the continuity of their line being
Everywhere maintained we'll as the
fRtegrity of the Russian armies.
The battle of Arras in June, 1915
WINS considered to have proved the al
lies, man for man, able to beat the
Germans in the offensive, other things
being equal, but the munitions and
artillery of the opposing forces were
not yet equal The transformation oil
Held tactics as the war progressed
multiplied the need for heavy gun:
lind powerful projectiles to break
Through concrete-armored lines Thi:
Transformation thus increased the SUI
neriority of belligerents who had the
initial advantage in preparation, fore
ing their adversaries to a greater ex.
penditure of munitions than their in.
dustries were as yet able to produce
while they themselves were able t
shower the Russian lines with the big.
gest of shells.
Beginnings of Second Crisis.
u The end of the first year of the wal
was the beginning of the second crisi:
for the allies-a munitions crisis. ag
Eravated by a diplomatic crisis reql.fr
ifg new enterprises that drew on theil
1hain forces. The landing of the
French and British at the Dardane;le!
IN April had weakened the allies else
where, reducing the number of re
serves on the main front, and if it die
not modify their general plan it oh
Niously made the elaboration of new
sllans difficult and hampered thei
movements.
II At the same time the enigmati,
fttuation in the Orient became serious
greece refusing the compensation of
fered for territorial concessions to Bull
esaria which might have facilitated
efnion of the Balkan states. The .situa
lion in Persia and Asia Minor follow
lhg the entry of Turkey into the wa
had developed a menace to Great Brit
ain in the Far East The favora bl,