The Little River news. (Ashdown, Little River County, Ark.) 1897-current, 1917-07-28
WAR SITUATION
MORE SERIOUS
Collapse OF Russian Army Means More
Fighting-Gcrmany VIII BE Able
to Throw Eastern Troops
Against Americans.

Washington, July 25.-No attempt is
made here to minimize the seriousness
of the war situation in Europe.
The United States is in the war and
will go through with it; but any cope
of a short struggle has gone glimmer-
ing with the apparent almost complete
collapse of the Russian army.
The development was not uEexpect-
ed by many army officers When the
offensive Of July l was started by the
Russians, the mlI5t frequent comment
heard was that it was probably the
dying kick of the cd Russian machine
Most observers were skeptical that it
could produce any decided results.
For the United States the t.uss an
collapse may have ar immediate and
direct bearing. If the German Gen
eral Staff presses it's advantages, it
will release additional German TO. ces
to bolster up the western trent.
where American troops are to be en-
gagged. Tho German line in the west
has not been seriously impaired st
any point, officers Ecre believe They
Go not pretend to know specifically
the situation al along the battle front,
but they are unable to see that IT,,
British and French have wrested from
the Germans any key position CT such
importance that it can be used next
year to hurl the enemy back toward
the Rhine.
Advantage With Tcutans.
The one stratgctic advantage gained
il recent fighting was gained by the
Germans. Many officers here beaave
that when a small sector elf to Brit
ish line in Belgium was overwhelmed
ard its defenders nearly all captured
or killed, the Germans materially i'm
proved the situation OF tleir weakest
front. That view is based On opinion
that the OILY hope of decisive attain
.meAts fer the a lies in the west lies
in rolling up tho German right flank
where it reaches the soa in Belgium.
II that could be dCne, it is argued
that the submarine bases could be
stamped out and the only Offensive in
strument Of the Germans be elimi-
mated or so seriously impaired as to
make it ineffective.
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. Ger
mans, for it would be necessary to
force landing behind their line and
force the whole right flank back from
the sea as a result.
Victory Would Cost.
The price of victory of this ma
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 present However, many
army men, both in Great Britain
and the United States, fav-r some
such attempt to bring the struggle to
a conclusion.
Reports received from France official
and unofficial, so far as known give no
cheering picture of what must be
done. There appears to be no doubt
tn oil
any force Germany can bring against
It. Even the Russian disaster does
not affect that situation, but tol gather
the necessary strength for a success
ful attack will take time and ample
sea transportation facilities if the
United States is to furnish the needed
surplus OF men, airships, munitions
aad food.
Transportation Big Issue.
The transportation problems before
the United STATES, both on Ian and
sea, are constantly increasing. II
seems to be certain new, that whole
railroad sy,.ems will have to be set
up il France te give the American
line the flow OF war mate"ial, an
men it must have to press ho.re an At
tack
There is an old military rule that a
fortified position cannot be taken by
direct attack, but must be turned or
isolated Some of tho officers here
say the allied offensive has consisted
of only direct attacks against line
of Notifications stronger than any
fort of former days. The mass OF
trenches, entanglements, armored
strong posts and fortified villages ex-
tends mics back TO the front on both
sides, SO that in effect fortified belt
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