New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-20

From The London Morning PoStO
The latest news from France is so stirring
and so satisfying to long-delayed expecta-
ton that it is most incumbent on US in this
country TO impose on ourselves the observa-
ton Of a proper measure in regarding this
news and in weighing the significance OF It,
Nearly two years Of war should have taught
the public that military necessities demand
the most careful discretion in the choice of
information which may be published; and
therefore that in the news which is officially
made known very much is omitted And in
order to form a correct estimate of any given
situation it is essential TO know what is
omitted The conclusion is that it is unwise
to argue from the known to the un-
known in such a situation as that which
is now partly disclosed in all theatres
of war. What is known is that on
ell fronts the Allies are to a certain ex-
tent taking the offensive On the Western
line an advance is taking place upon parts
of the front, in which French and English
troops are associated. Further south the
French have gained another success at Thiau-
mont On the Eastern front the Russians
have taken Kolomea and are pushing forward
Little is known of the Russian progress about
Kolki and on the Dwina front, except that
there is heavy fighting going on. Italy con-
tinues to press the Austrians. In Asia Minor
there has been that silent interval which has
so often preceded the tidings of increased
Russian activity. Broadly speaking, those
are the known facts Of the situation. Wheth-
er or not they are to be regarded as gem
eral offensive on the part of the Allies it is
too soon to consider. 1t is, however, clear
that whatever is taking place is the result
of combined Allied plan of campaign, by
means Of which much of the advantage accru-
ing to Germany by reason OF her occupation
of an interior position may be neutralized.
No attention should be paid to exaggerated
and misleading ideas in which partial and
perhaps a temporary advance upon one sec
ton of line extending hundreds of miles
is conceived as the prelude to a tremendous
victory.
II is safe rule in these matters to con-
slider the enemy rather than the Allies. The
Germans are in great strength. and it is
certain that they have neglected TO employ
no device Of defence or offence. They are
fighting not, to be exact. for their national
existence, since no nation can be destroyed
save by putting its whole population to the
sword, but for their national place and
power, and they will fight TO the last. The
retreat Of the Austrian army before General
Brussiloff affords no analogy in respect Of
the German forces on the West, nor is
comparison to be drawn between the earlier
Allied advanced at Neuve Chapelle, Loos, or
in the Champagne. There is as yet no
reason to suppose that the recent successes
indicate a general advance; but, assuming.
for the sake of conjecture that a general
advance was indicated. we at once perceive
that il must be exceedingly slow, because of
the immense forces engaged, the vast extent
of territory upon which they are operating
and the stubborn resistance OF the enemy.
In so great business there is little in
history 10 guide the student, for never be-
fore have whole nations fought one another
across a continent. So far the war has been
largely a war of exhaustion, and in such a
campaign the important element is not the
loss or gain of territory but the relative
power OF the two sets Of combatants. An
advance may or may not achieve tactical
gain. The retreat of the Russian army
earlier in the war exemplifed the compare
tive unimportance of the loss of large tracts
of territory. So long as the Russian army
remained indicated the occupation by the
enemy OF Russian territory served to
lengthen his lines OF communication and to
add to his responsibilities
In the present war the beginning OF the
end will come when one side OF the other
evinces definite superiority, in the exercise
of which the other side loses so heavily that
its front can no longer be held unbroken and
that its remaining resources become made
qrate. IL cannot be said at present that the
Allies can claim anything so decisive More
over, an operation in one theatre of war must
be considered not as an isolated success or
failure, but in relation to the whole Of tho