The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-26
LONG VAR AHEAD
FOR UNITED STATES
No Attempt Is Being Made in Washing
ton to Minimize the Seriousness
of the Situation for the
Entente Allies.

Washington, d. c., July 26-No at
tempt is made here to minimize the seri
BUSINESS of the situation in the war thea
tres in Europe. The United States is in
the war and will go through with it; but
any hope Of short struggle has gone
glimmering with the apparent almost
complete collapse of the Russian wal
machine.
The development was not unexpected
by many army officers. When the often
sive of July ! was started by the Rus
sian forces, the most frequent comment
heard here was that it was probably the
dying kick of the old Russian machine.
Most observers were frankly skepticai
that it could produce any decided result.
For the United States, the Russian col
| lapse may have an immediate and direct
bearing. II will, if the German general
staff presses its advantage and releases
additional German forces to bolster up
the western front where American troops
are to be engaged. The German line in
the west has not been seriously impaired
at any point, officers here believe. They.
do not claim to know specifically the
situation all along the battle front, but
they are unable to see that the British
and French have wrested from the Ger
mans any key position of such impor-
tance that it can be used next year to
hurl the enemy back toward the Rhine.
1t has been noted, in fact, that the one
strategic advantage gained in recent
fighting was gained by the Germans.
Many officers here believe that when
small sector of the British line in Bel
gium was overwhelmed and its defenders
nearly all captured or killed, the Ger
mans improved the situation on their
weakest front materially. That view is |
based on opinion that the only hope of
decisive attainments for the allies in the |
west lies in rolling up the German right |
flank, where ii reaches the sea in Bel
gium.
If that could be done it is argued that
the U-boat bases could be stamped out
and the only offensive instrument of the
Germans be eliminated entirely or so
seriously impaired as to make it inef-
fective.
The big question is whether it could
be done. 1t would require combined army
and navy operations on that part of the
Belgian coast held by the Germans, for it
would be necessary to force a landing
behind their line and force the whole
right flank back from the sea as a result.
The price of a victory of this nature
against the U.boats and German shore
batteries probably would be appalling,
md there is nothing TO indicate that the
fort is being seriously considered at the
present. 1t cannot be questioned, how
,ver, that many army men, both in
treat Britain and the United States, fs-
'or some such desperate attempt to bring !
he struggle to conclusion.
Reports received from France, official
nd unofficial, so far as known, give no
heering picture of what must be done.
here appears to be no doubt that the
lied line can stand against any force =
iermsny can bring against it. Even the
,ussian disaster does not affect that sit
alton But TO gather the necessary
trength for a successful offensive will "
axe time and ample sea transportation ).
acilities if the United States is to fur :,
ish the needed surplus of men, air -
lanes, munitions and food. =,
The transportation problems before the n,
nited States, both on land and sea, are n
increasing in scope. II seems m
be certain now that whole railroad
rstems viii have TO be set up in France
give the American line the flow Of
ar materials and men that it must "
ave to press home an attack.
There is an old military rule that a
rtified position cannot be taken by d. an
ct attack. but must be turned or iso- -
ted entirely. Some observers here saw "a
e allied offensive has consisted only m,
direct attacks against = line Of for tn
scations stronger than any form Of I'M
rmer DAYS no
Il Is the belief Of some military men ca
re that no breech can Be made for un
anv months through the German line
sufficient width to permit such opera
ms in the rear A. would fierce . rolling
Of the entire German front. ys
Admitting al these points. however. ~
ere is no sign Of disoouragsmsnt iu
ionr American Officials. President VII ~
ns' declaration that the nation, not 10