The Washington times., 1916-07-28
THE wAvERINo OFFENSIVE

Armenia by the Russians, the ad-
vance Of their armies upon Hungary,
the conquest Of Pozieres and other
strategic points on the western line
by the British and French, it Is to be
observed that the allies have not
been able to break down the attacks
on Verdun. There has been cessa-
ton of their acutest activity, indeed ;
but this, 1t now develops, is only tenn
porary. Troops were withdrawn
from the Verdun sector to help pro-
tect Pozieres, and even this expedi-
ent failed to save the village whose
high elevation makes it highly i'm
portant. But on the other hand it
did not so far weaken the crown
princes force that he has been COM
PEELED to relinquish the initiative.
Now it is reported that immense
German forces are being shifted, be-
hind the western lines, in prepara-
tion for new offensive. It may be
against Calais. it may be the last
great drive intended to take Verdun.
At the same time, the Germans
are bringing large Turk forces
through the Balkans to strengthen
the lines in the east. 1t is evident,
in short, that the German staff is
not yet ready to relinquish its offen-
sive and admit that the central
powers are definitely placed on the
defensive. .
There has not been a spectacular
gain for the allies since they began
their advance on the Somme line; 4;
but it has been a gain calculated to
hearten them, for it has proved that
in artillery they possess now a su-
periority, and that the new British
troops are able to assume and make
good in offensive against the Ger
mans. Stories from Swiss sources
that the French are not pleased with
the conducted the British offensive
because it has been too feebls to re-
lieve Verdun may safely be heavily
discounted.
But fair estimate of all facts in
the situation does not force con-
clusion that the general initiative in
the war has passed to the allies. The
staying qualities Of the central en-
pires are being tested; but they are
proving marvellous. Two years ago
10 man would have believed that the
present situation could possibly he
brought about, at the price that has
been paid for it. The war is costing
and has cost such vast sums that al
most anybody would have said that
it could not be sustained. Yet it has
been, and is today being continued
with such seeming steadiness and
assurance, by all sides, that there is
a. marked drift Of opinion back to
the belief that a military, not an
economic, victory must be sought as
the means to end it. Economic con-
ditions will contribute to the mill
tary end; but Germany is not going
to be starved into submission, nor
France bled so white that by reason
of her weakness her allies will have
to give up.
If, then, there must be such a pro-
longation of the conflict, 1t must be
apparent that the war may last two
or three years yet. The effort of the
allies has been to place such over
whelming forces on every front-in
Belgium. in France, in the east, in
Armenia, in the Mesopotamia-that
it shall be impossible for the Ger
mans to shift great forces from one
front to another. They have not
thus far succeeded. The Turks and
perhaps the Bulgars are still able
to send troops northward. 1t indi-
Gates that the allies weak spot is
still in the levantine region. They
have an army of 100000 to 100000
men there, and a huge naval force;
yet all the rumors of impending Of
fensives there have been followed by
disappointment. Perhaps they are
still working out their plans for that
area. Certainly their project of
Simultaneous and absorbing offen-
sives on all fronts will not be sue
cessful so long as the Turks and
Bulgars are not completely occupied
at home.
1t is not impossible that the Ger
mans may yet hold the general Of
fehsive for some time. If they
shor'' jam through at Verdun-and
them seem pretty confidently to ex-
pect that much, and to be willing to
pay the price-the situation in the
west would be greatly changed
Their gain would not be so i'm.
pcrtant as three months ago; but il
would be the definite establishment
of the fact that there is still a con-
test for the privilege of the initia.