The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-07-31


seen outside the duG-out
free, dealing first with France, to-
turn upon the Russian armies. Nine
divisions transported from the Fran
co-British front reinforced the Aus
trians. and the offensive against the
Russians began in May. By the end
of July Prfzcmysl and and LemberG
had been retaken and the Russians
were considering the abandonment
of Warsaw and the line of the VS.
lula. Short even of rifles, many OF
Emperor Nicholas's troops defended
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. as
well as the integrity Of the Russian
armies.
Munitions Not Equal.
The battle or Aras in June. 1915.
was considered to have proved the
Allies 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 vet equal. The transformation
of field tactics as the war progressed
multiplied the need for heavy guns
and powerful projectiles to break
through concrete-parmored lines.
This transformation thus increased
the superiority of belligerents who
had the initial advantage in prepara-
ton, forcing their adversaries to
greater expenditure Of munitions
than their Industries were as yet able
to produce while they themselves
were able to shower the Russian lines
with the biggest OF shells.
The end Of the first year Of the
war was the beginning of the second
crisis for the Allies-a munition
crisis. aggravated by diplomatic
crisis requiring new enterprises that
drew on their main forces. The
landing Of the French and British at
the Dardanelles in April had weak
ened the Allies elsewhere, reducing
the number of reserves on the main
front. and if It did not modify their
general plan It obviously made the
elaboration Of new plans difficult and
hampered their movements.
At the same time the enigmatic sit
uation in the Orient became serious,
Greece refusing the compensation Of
fered for territorial concessions to
Bulgaria vhich might have facilita-
ted union of the Balkan states. The
situation in Persia and Asia Minor
following the entry Of Turkey into
the war had developed a menace 20
Great Britain in the Far East. The
favorable impression produced by
the advance north Of Aras had d.
minished in the absence Of further
operations and there was a notable
absence Of news favorable to the AL
lies.
More cannon, more ammunition, y
was the comment of French people
on the difficulties that beset them.
Women and girls joined in the the
efforts of the trained merchanics
brought back from the armies to the
forge and the lathe, and the curve of
munitions production took sharp
upward turn.
Winter an Ally.
The industrial efforts of the Allies
were given the required time by the
resistance Of the Russian armies
The Germans advanced, but they
could neither destroy nor dislocate
the Russian forces. Despite the for
mldable effort of the Central pow
ers Dvinsk held out, and winter was
upon Field Marshall con linden
burg's armies with the Russian CAM
paign unfinished. Even had It ter
minated then it was too late to turn
against the Allies in the West. Grand
Duke Nicholas had won for the
French and the British the entire fail
and winter in which to continue their
preparation.
While intensifying to the utmost
their production Of arms and ammu-
milton, the Allies began early in the
second year of hostilities. with the
visit of Field Marshal Earl Kitchen
err to France, the series of confer
ences that was finally to coordinate
their military effort.
Their diplomatic action, however,
did not as yet reflect the same unity
of purpose. No parallel result was
obtained either at Athens or Sofia in
negotiations regarding territory in
Macedonia offered to Bulgaria, and
there appeared to be divergence of
views among the Allies as to further
action. Negotiations still were in
progress when Turkey coded the
Dedeaghatch-M ustapha Pasha rail
road, with part of Adrianople, to Bull
garia, foreshadowing the latter's ac-
ton against the Allies,
Meanwhile, the Germans and Aus
TRANS, after crossing the Vistula