Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-26
With Complete Collapse of
Russia, All Hope of
Short Struggle Goes
Glimmering.
IBy Associated Press. ]


is made here to minimize the serious
ness OF the situation in the war the
aters in Europs. The United States Is
in the war and will go through 1t; but
any hope of a short struggle has gone
glimmering with the apparently al
most complete collapse OF the Russian
machine.
The development was not unexpected
by many army officers. When the Of
fensive of July l was started by the
Russian forces. the most frequent COM
ment heard here was that it was prob
ably the dying kick of the old Russian
machine.
For the United States. the Russian
collapse may have an immediate and
direct bearing. 1t will. IL the German
general presses its advantage. release
additional German forces to bolster up
the western front. where American
troops are to be engaged. The Ger
man line in the west has not been se-
riously impaired at any point, officers
believe. They do not claim to know
the situation all along the battle front.
but they are unable to see that the
British and French have wrested from
Importance that it can be used next
year to hurl the enemy back.
ONE STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE
Is WON BY GERMANS
1t has been noted. in fact that the
one strategic advantage gained in re-
cent fighting was gained by the Ger
mans Many officers here believe that
when a small sector of the British line
in Belgium was overwhelmed and its
defenders nearly all captured. or killed.
the Germans improved the situation on
their weakest front materially. That
view is based on the opinion that the
only hope of decisive attainments for
the allies in the west lies in rolling up
the German right flank, where it
reaches the sea In Belgium
II that could be done 1t is argued
that the U-boat bases could he stamped
out and the only offensive 'instrumen
|rof.the Germans be eliminated entirely
or made 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 II would be necessary to
force landing behind their line and
force the whole right flank back from
the sea result
PRICE OF SUCH VICTORY
WOULD DE APPALLING
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 the present However. many army
In
favor such desperate attempt to bring
the struggle to conclusion
Reports received from France give
no cheering picture of what must be
done. There appears to be no doubt
that the allies line can stand before
any force Germany can bring before
It, Even the Russian disaster does not
affect that situation. But to gather
the necessary strength for successful
offensive will take time and ample sea
transportation facilities. II the United
States Is to furnish the needed surplus
OF men, airplanes. munitions and food
The transportation problems before
the United States, both on land and
sea. are constantly increasing in scope.
1t seems to be certain now that whole
railroad systems will have to be set
up In France to give the American line
the flow Of war materials and men that
1t must have to press home an ..ttack
ALLIED OFFENSIVE
ONE OF DIRECT ATTACKS
There is an old military rule that a
fortified position cannot be taken by
direct attack. but must be turned or
isolated entirely. Some observers here
say the allied offensive has consisted
only Of direct attacks against line
of Notifications stronger than any fort
Of former days The mass OF trenches,
entanglements. stronghold posts and
fortified villages extends miles back of
the front on both sides, so that, in
effect. a fortified belt stretches from
the sea to the Swiss border that is
perhaps more than 100 miles wide
Military men here believe that no
breach can be made for many months
through the German limo Of sufficient
width to permit such operations In the
rear as would force rolling up Of the
entire German front.
Admitting all these points. there Is
no sign of discouragement among
American officials President Wilson's
declaration that the nation. not merely
an army, must be made ready for war,
is being carried out determinedly. and
apparently with confidence that in time
men and supplies can be got to France
in sufficient force to make certain the
result