New-York tribune., 1917-12-12
Another Blow at France

cpce to the imminence Of a new German
offensive in the West, it is patent that the
sole remaining chance for a German vic
tory in this war lies in an offensive which
shall dispose of France before the United
States can arrive.
The Russian collapse has provided Ger
many with a strategic reserve In the West
for the first time since Verdun. 1t Is pos
.ible now for the Germans to repeat the
Verdun attack upon France without weak
cning their lines at any point on the WesI
front If they can defeat the French
overwhelmingly, or if they can impose
upon the French such great losses as TO
produce approximate exhaustion, they may
hope to achieve separate peace with
France before the United States can be-
come an effective force in the war.
In the winter of 1915-r6 the British
army was incapable of supporting the
French by an offensive in Flanders or by
reinforcements in Lorraine Not until July
was the British army able to move and it
was then obliged to bear heavy casualties
because it was still imperfectly prepared
for a battle test. From February until
July France had to bear the burden of the
German attack upon Verdun alone.
Before making their attack upon Ver-
dun the Germans had by their successful
campaign in Russia, which began at the
Dunajec. temporarily eliminated Russia
as military factor. They were able to
bring many Of their best troops from east
TO west. They were able to bring most of
their heavy artillery, and their great capt
ures of Russian guns and supplies mate
rally aided them in the great venture.
They failed at Verdun, but they inflicted
upon France at that time wound which
has never been healed and never accu-
ratey appraised outside of France herself.
As ietween the British and the Germans,
the situation as to morale is Enthusiastically
favorable to the British. They have never
made the great losses Of the Germans nor
vet felt the pinch of economic and food
pressure They have behind them a long
stretch Of lcal but unmistakabe victories
on the offensive, and there is no such
WEAKNESS in the British nation as has been
induced by invasion and devastation in
France. It is inconcciyable that the Ger
mans can hope to break the British spirit
by any offensive that they might conduct
now.
On the other hand, it would be idle to
mistake the danger which must now be for
all of us as result of French sacrifice
and devotion in the first three years of the
war. We are bound TO recognize that from
the Marne to the Sornme France was
obliged to bear the burden Of the war prac-
icaily single handed. We are bound to
recognize 10" that despite the very best
intentions and tho very best efforts, Amer
lea will be quite as powerless to aid
France decisively next year as were the
British at the time of Verdun.
II took the British from August, 1914
10 July, 1916, to raise and organize citi
zen army, which made its first appearance
y ON the offensive in the Battle Of the SommC
" and did not achieve real efficiency foi
somc months thereafter, not, in fact, unit
Bcaumont-Hamel. in November. We shal
not Surpass the British in speed. We shall
not have considerable army ready fol
action next year, and it will be impossible
for us TO intervene in the war TO lift tn,
burden Of France to any effective degree
before April or May Of 1919.
In that period the British will be ablc
to do much for the French. They will un
qucstionably take over a considerable por
tion Of the line. as we may take over a
small portion. but now that the Italian
situation has demanded British and Frencf
armies. and the Balkan situation still re
quires large Allied forces at Salonica, The
Allies on the West front viii not only lacI
the. men for an offensive, but will have tc
husband their reserves until America in
tervenes.
For ,nc next yeaY thc war is going to bC
a question Of France. Sound, If brutal