Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-07-26
u. s. MUST TAKE
RUSSlA'S TASK
in WAR NOW
Washington Realizes the
Slav Collapse is
Serious.
STRONG
ON FRONT
All the Battering Of British
and French Have so Far
Awaited Little.

Washington, July 26.-No attempt
is made here to minimize the serious
ness OF the situation in the war thea
ters in Europe. The United States is
in the war and will go through with
It; hut any hope of a short struggle
has zone glimmering with the appar-
ent almost complete collapse Of the
Russian war machine.
The development was not unexpect-
ed by many army officers. When the
offensive of July / was started by the
Russian forces, the most frequent
comment heard here was that it was
probably the dying kick Of the old
Russian machine. Most observers
were frankly skeptical that 1t could
produce my decided result.
Bearing On q. S.
For the United States the Russian
collapse may have an immediate and
direct bearing. 1t will, If the German
general staff presses the advantage
release additional German forces
to bolster up the western front, where
American troops are to be engaged.
The German Inc in the west has not
been seriously impaired at any point,
officers here believe. They do not
claim to know specifically the situa-
ton all along the battle front, but
they are unable to see that the British
and French have wrested from the
Germans n key position Of such I'M
portance that 1t can be used next year
tos hurl the enemy back toward the
Rhine.
German Gain.
1t has beer noted, in fact, that the
n strategic advantage gained in re-
cent fighting was gained by the Ger
81 yonnc So hFo,oty nf7oorc horo ho1iavo that
when a small sector of the British line
in. Belgium was overwhelmed and its
defenders nearly all captured or kill
edthe Germans improved the situa-
ton on their weakest front material
~.
Attack on Coast.
The view Is based on opinion that
the only hope of decisive attachments
for the allies in the west is in rolling
up the German right flank, where 1t
reached the sea in Belgium.
II that could be stamped out, the
only offensive instrument Of the Ger
mans would be eliminated entirely or
so seriously impaired as to make it in
effective.
10 Success Doubtful.
The big question is whether it could
be- done. It would require combined
army and navy operations on that
part OF the Belgian coast held by the
Germans, fon 1t wdtTld be necessarily to
fierce 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 n
ture against the U-boats and German
shore batteries probably would be ap.
palling, and there is nothing to indi.
cate that the effort is being seriously
considered at the present time. 1
cannot be questioned, however, tina
many army men, both in Great Bri'
tain and the United States, favor some
such desperate attempt to bring the
struggle to a conclusion.
Immense Effort Needed.
Reports received from France, Off
cia1 and unofficial, so far as known
give NJ cheering picture of what mus
be- done. There appears to be nj
doubt that the allied line can stand
against n force Germany can bring
against it. Even the Russian disas
ter does not affect that situation. Blu
to gather the necessary strength fol
a successful offensive will take time
and ample sea transportation facili'
ties if the United States is to furnish
the needed surplus of men. airplanes
munitions and food.
The transportation problems be
fore the United States, both on lant
and sea, are constantly increasing il