Arizona republican., 1916-10-12
COLUMBUS DAY
End of the Fighting Year

The end of the European seems farther re- moved than ever. Two months ago when the Russians sweeping through volhynia, Bukowna and Galicia, and when the allies biting into the German line the west; when Rumania threw herself in with the allies and when the allies seemed to be gathering for a supreme effort in the Balkans, it looked if the Central Powers must be crushed within the iron ring But thing then evident to military observers and that that the allies win the in the and in the Balkans It agreed that the German line in the west could not be broken It might be driven back foot by foot but that would be nterminable process carried it has been a fearful the allies The only purpose that could be served by operations the would be to divert German strength from the east, and make easier the crushing by Russia and the severance by the Allies the Macedonian front, of Bulgaria and Turkey from the Central Empires
 But it appears that the Russian offensive is ended and that the tide is receding. Rumania after the first burst is retiring before the German forces in Pennsylvania and is hemmed in on the south east by Germans, Turks and Bulgarians. She will apparently be devoting herself saving herself from the fate of Serbia. Should that fate overtake her her entrance into the will have been far worse for the allies than her continued neutrality would have been.
 It is perhaps unlikely that the retirement of Russia will be followed by another Austro- German drive like that of last year But it will have been proved that her great numbers with her boasted armament with which the late offensive begun powerless again the trained sodiery and match less leadership of the Germans, and hope of the crushing will be abandoned After the awful the unparalleled slaughter of the last three months it is doubtful whether Russia would undertake another such offensive. She almost certainly would not if Rumania should collapse.
 Meanwhile the allies on the Macedonian front have set for themselves gigantic task of controlling the Balkans unaided by the Rumanians and the Russians. It may be believed that it is a hopeless task things stand.
 The French and British, according to reports from London and Paris, making progress. admit tedly slow, but unless the operations there be carried in conjunction. in with those on the other fronts, they might as well be conducted against German East Africa far they will have any bearing the result of the European war
 Intervening winter will limit activity on all the fronts especially in the Thus near the end of the fighting year. summing up shows the situation to be slightly changed from year ago with whatever small advantage there may be. the side of the Central Empires Within year the Dardanelles campaign has collapsed British srmy has failed in Mesopotamia, and the Balkans, with the exception of Rumana, have been brought under the control of the Teutons. Against this has been a recovery by Russia of comparatively small part of the territory she had lost; and the better organization of the British for though there is pressing need of more
 France and Germay have raised great new war loans by popular subscription Great Britain is about to negotiate third American loan that prepara- ton seems to be made for a fourth year of the war which promises to be more decisive than the last has been.