The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-07-26
Collapse of Russian Armies
Taken to Mean Long
Drawn-Out Contest
GRENADINES IN WEST
CONTINUE AS STRONG
AS EVER, IT is SAID
French and English Have Not Even
Denied the Almost Impregnable
Front, and Americans Facing
Terrific Undertaking

Washington, July 25.--No attempt is
made here to minimize the serious
ness of the situation In the war thea
tres In Europe. The United States is I'm
the wnr and will go through with
1t, but any hope of short struggle has
gone glimmering with the apparent AL
most complete collapse of the Russian
war machine.
The development was not unexpected
by many army officers. When the often
bsi, re Of July was started by the Rus
s;as n forces the most frequent comment
~ lrd here was that it was probably
n.uge dying kick of the old Russian ma
\ chine.
4 RUSSIAN SITUATION
4 For the United States, the Russian COL
lapse may have an immediate and direct
bearing. 1t will, if the German general
staff presses it's advantage, release adj
ditional 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 sit
uation 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-
lance that it can be used next year to
hurl the enemy back toward the Rhine.
GERMAN GAINS
1t has been noted, in fact, that the
fighting was gained by the Germans.
Many officers here believe that when a
small sector of the British line in Bel
quinn was overwhelmed, the Germans
materially improved the situation on
!. their weakest front. That view is based
I or, the opinion that the only hope of de-
cisive attachments for the allies in the
4 west lies in rolling up the German right
flank, where it reaches the sea in Bel
guim.
/ 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 Sc
riously impaired as to make it ineffec-
| tive.
The big question is whether 1t 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. I,
PRICE OF VICTORY
The price of victory of this nature
against the U-boats and German shore
batteries probably would be appalling,
and there is nothing to indicate that the
effort is being seriously considered at
present. 1t cannot be questioned, how
ever, that many army men, both In
Great Britain and the United States,
\ favor some desperate attempt
Reports received from France, official
1 and unofficial. SO far as known, give no
cheering picture of what must be done.
There appears to be no doubt that the
allied line can stand against any force
Germany can bring against 1t. But to
gather the necessary strength for sue
cessful offensive will take time and ample
sea transportation facilities if the United
States is to furnish the needed surplus
of men, airplanes, munitions and food.
TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM
American transportation problems both
on land and sea, are constantly increas-
ing in scope. 1t seems to be certain now
that whole railroad systems will have to
be set up in France to give the Ameri
can line the flow of war materials and
men that it must have to press home
an attack.
There is an old military rule that a
fortified position cannot be taken by di-
rect attack, but must be turned or iso-
lated entirely. Some observers here say
the allied offensive has consisted only of
direct attacks against line of fortifica-
lions stronger than any fort of former
days. The maze of trenches entangle-
ments, armored strong posts and fortified
villages extends miles back of the front
on both sides, so that in effect, a forth
fed belt stretches from the sea to the
Swiss border that is perhaps more than
100 miles wide
1t is the belief OF some military men
here that no breach can. be made for
many months through the German line
Of sufficient width to permit rolling up
the entire iGermant front.
Admitting all these points. however.
there Is no sign of discouragement among
American officials. President Wilson $
declaration that the nation. not merely
an arDar must be made ready for war
is bell arried out determinedly and APP
pareA With confidence that in time men
and Jes can be got to France in
sufficl force to make certain the re-
suit.
Gaso| I and Naphtha
Fill in Philadelphia