New-York tribune., 1917-07-27
No Note of Pessimism,
However, Is Sounded by
France or England
Gravity of Task
Is Now Realized
Neither Allied Armies Nor Fleet
Can Deliver a Knockout
Blow, Say Experts
rFrom The Tribune Burraul

Washington, July 26.-Governmeht
officials to-day, while not attempting 70
minimize the seriousness of the mill
tary and naval situation, expressed the
greatest confidence in the ability OF
the Allies and of the United States 10
overcome every obstacle, including the
submarine campaign and the deadlock
on the Western front. They professed
the liveliest confidence, also, in the
ability of Russia to recover from her
present distress and to return to her
task of beating back the German army.
There was noticeable to-day a greater
frankness on the part of high Admin
stration authorities to state their views
on the situation. It was unreservedly
declared by one that the spring often
sives of both the British and the French
armies had been failures. But no note
of pessimism had reached this govern
ment from either England or France
respecting the difficulties faced by their
forces, il was asserted. At the same
time, no assurances have been received
that the war is approaching an early
end. although IN no quarter Is IL
doubted that Germany would seize any
opportunity for concluding peace on
the basis of the status quo ante bellum.
There isn't thing to justify pessi-
mism," Secretary Baker was quoted
to-day. "On the contrary, the ar
rangements made by the British and
French on the Western front, together
with the splendid progress being made
by the American troops, afford a basis
for an entirely different attitude. |
feel more than cheerful. | am getting
more and more confident every day Of
our power and the ultimate triumph OF
our cause"
Military men, however. who viewed
the situation from purely professional
standpoint, stated that neither the AL
lied armies nor their navies presented
any prospect of knockout" blow;
that the war, if pressed to a strict mil
itary decision, involving the complete
defeat of Germany, will continue at
least two years longer. unless some
thing snaps somewhere"
An authority with a nationwide rep
utation said:
conditions in Ireland and the labor
situation in England are holding the
British army in Britain. The feeling
in Ireland is very bitter, and England
does not feel that IL would be safe TO
withdraw from the country forces that
would be available to meet any emer-
gency in Ireland. For the same rea-
son, she hesitates to abandon the la
Dor situation to itself, as there is con-
siderable unrest and discomfort among
the working people.
Therefore England has about ap-
preached the limit of the troops she
can spare for the Western front, which
Is considerably short of the number
necessary 10 create that preponderance
of force which is essential to the efort
of breaking the German lines. In ad-
dition to the Irish and labor consld-
erations, England must maintain at
home a very powerful force to pre-
vent the very possibility OF what some
persons have predicted. namely, an IN
vasion of England by German army.
France, as the world knows, has
called to the colors her last man, and
this does not mean the last Frenchman
in France merely, but the last man
available for military service she pos
sesses in every part OF the world
There is no lack OF war spirit, OF mar
vellous morale, in France, and her
economic problems are not insolubie.
But she must look to the United States
or to Italy for troops to help her es-
tablish that superiority in strength
without which the German lines can
not be broken.
Russia is not playing out, but Rus
sia is unable to employ now, and proba-
bly, will not be able to employ. for
considerable time, any strength pro-
portionate to her resources. Despite
contrary reports, the Russian situation
from a military viewpoint is not even
approaching a crisis