The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-28
UP TO AMERICA.
UNITED STATES MUST MAKE
GOOD LOSS OF RUSSIA.
Failure OF Russian Army to Hold Ger
mans ON Eastern Front Makes 1t
Necessary for Other Allies to Win
War I'm West.

Necessary for Other Allies to Win
War I'm West.
Washington, July 25.-NO attempt
Is made here to minimize the serious
ness Of the situation in the war the
aires in Europe. The United States
Is In the war and will 60 through with
1t; but any hope Of a short struggle
has gone glimmering with the appar-
ont almost complete collapse of the
Russian war machine.
The development was not unexpect-
ed by many army officers. When the
offensive Of July was started by the
Russian forces, the most frequent
comment heard here was that it was
probably the dying kick of the old
Russian machine.
For the United States the Russian
collapse may have an immediate and
direct bearing. It will. IL the German
general staff presses it's advantage, re-
lease additional German forces to boil
ster up the western front where Amer
lean troops are to be engaged. The
German line in the west has not been
seriously impaired at any point, oiR-
GERS here believe. They do not claim
to know specifically the situation all
along the battle front but they are
unable to Sc that the British and
French have wrested from the Ger
mans any key position of such impor-
tance that 1t can be used next year to
hurl the enemy back toward the
Rhine.
!, l, 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 small sector of the British
line In Belgium was overwhelmed the
Germans materially improved the
situation on their weakest front.
That view is based on the opinion
that the best hope of decisive attain
ments for the allies in the West lies
In rolling up the German right flank
where 1t reaches the sea in Belgium.
II that could be done. 1t is argued,
the u-boat bases could he stamped out
and Germans be eliminated entirely
or SO seriously impaired as to make
1t ineffective. The big question is
whether 1t could be done.
The price OF victory of this nature
against the u-boats and German shore
batteries probably would be appalling
and there u nothing to indicate that
|ths efE0st = tbetnk seriously oohsidSkc,l
atspSsssnt. II can not be questioned.
however. that many army men. both
in Great Britain and the United States.
favor some such desperate attempt.
Reports received from France, Of
fetal and unofficial. so far as known
give no cheering picture of what
must be done. There appears to be
no doubt that the allies line can
stand against any force Germany cai.
bring against 1t. But to gather the
necessary strength for O successful Of
fensive will take time and ample sea
transportation facilities If the United
States Is to furnish the needed surplus
Of mer. airplanes. munitions and food
American transportation problems
both on land and sea. are constantly
increasing in scope. 1t seems to be
certain now that whole railroad sys
TENS will have TO be set up in France
to give the American line the flow G
war materials and men to press home
an attack.
There is an old military rule that q
fortified position can not be taken by
direct attack but must be turned or
isolated entirely. Some observers
here say the allied offensive has con-
sisted only Of direct attacks against
II line of Notifications stronger than
any fort of former days. The maze Of
trenches. entanglements, armored
posts and fortified villages extends
miles lack Of the front on both sides.
80 that in effect fortified 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 to permit rolling up the entire
German front.
Admitting all these points, however.
| there Is no sign Of encouragement
among American officials. President
Wilson's declaration that the nation,
not merely an army. must he made
ready for war is being carried out de-