The Washington herald., 1917-10-07


snorted an allied ambassador. Mere
nothings, mere bagatelles, beside the
East that lies at the kaiser's feet"
Must Keep Prepared.
The war cannot now end In a draw.
II Germany holds firm in the west,
allows herself to be negotiated out
of the occupied territory. and comes
out with armies and militarist caste
intact, no country ana no comblna-
ton OF countries outside the Ger
manic group will ever dare again to
dispute the orders of Berlin. All the
rest of US, moreover, must keep arm
ed to the teeth TO protect ourselves
against invasion and destruction; and
those who know the German people
best and are lost sanguine that un-
der defeat they will set up a democ-
racy, are most positive that no Ger
man would dream of ousting his
rulers, IL those rulers were success
full.
1t Is no secret that at one time
this year very high hopes were held
in England and France for the COM
ing offensives on the western front
Important as the successes gained
In those attacks have been, cruel as
are the losses inflicted upon the en-
emy. II is now evident to the world
that the wider strategic visions
which looked forward to great, II not
decisive, results in the field have
proved too optimistic, or at the least
premature.
The complete collapse Of the Rus
sian armies fortunately took place at
date too late to permit the Germans
to reap the full benefit OF their cheap
ly bought successes by transferring
troops to the west The full effect
of the heart-breaking situation in the
east will not be felt until spring in
the west. when, however. military
men are agreed, the increased
strength Germany draws from the
east will not enable her to undertake
a great offensive with the slightest
prospect of success. 1t will, however,
stiffen the stubborn defensive. which.
in the light OF the present European
situation and the strength of the rival
armies, seems Germany's best as It
is her only card.
Russia Influenced Campaign.
Russia. however. decisively infiuenc-
ed the fate of the Western campaigns
in 1917. Even though few troops were
actually transferred from the East
front. all the new divisions formed
In Germany went to the West, while
the great Russian offensive that was
part of the 1917 war plan broke down
almost before it got started.
Incredible quantities of munitions
and guns were sent by the allies to
Russia; the use made of them can
be imagined. Had all the manufac-
turing resources OF the entente and
America been poured into France and
Flanders the pressure upon the Ger
man lines would have been greatly
intensified. Germany was able to
bring TO the West front hundreds
of batteries and millions of shells that
under normal conditions must have
have gone to the East.
The result of the Russian break
down, then. made itself felt in tine
West even as early as the battle of
Arras and the French offensive of
April on the Aisne. The enemy pour
ed shells upon the allies positions
with a prodigality hitherto unknown,
and the French and British COM
mand knew even than that one shell
out OF every three that came over
their lines had been destined by the
Germans for the Russian front in
the enemy plans for this year made
before the revolution. ,
British Did Wonders.
When the battle In Flanders began
last month the process of transfer of
metal if not men from the East had
been in full stream for many months
Under those circumstances the won
der is not that the heroic British in
fantry. with the rain and the mud
against them, did not accomplish
more. 1t is a miracle that they did
so much, and the German field grays
have never had such pounding, not
even on the Somme.
But all the heroism in the world will
not alter such facts as those which
the Russian collapse has placed be-
fore the allies. 1t is the brutal truth
that a decision on the West front in
ell human probability depends on the
number of American troops that can
be put into line while the allies are
a ble.- to hold out: It is equally true
that unless that decision is obtained,
or Germany surrenders beforehand,
the war will not be a draw. Germany
will win it