Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-07-26
LONG WAR AHEAD
OF UNITED STATES
Collapse of Russian Military
Machine a Serious Blow
to the Allies.
HAS IMMEDIATE BEARING.
Russia Eliminated. Germany Will Prob
ably Bolster Up Western Front
Where u. s. Troops VIII Fight.

Washington, July 25.-No attempt Is
made here to minimize the seriousness OF
the situation in the war theatres in Eu-
rope. The United States Is in the war
and will go through with it; but any hope
Of short struggle has gone glimmering
with the apparent almost complete col
lapse of the Russian war machine.
The development was not unexpected
by many army officers. When the often
sive. of July was started by the Russian
forces. the most frequent comment heard
here was that 1t was probably the dying
kick Of the old Russian machine. Most OBJ
servers were frankly skeptical that it
could produce any decided result.
For the United States the Russian COL
lapse may have an immediate and direct
bearing. 1t will, IL the German general
staff presses it's advantage and release ad-
dtional 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 situa-
ton all along the battle front, but they
are unable to see that the British and
French have wrested from the Germans
any key position of such Importance that
1t can be used next year to hurl the enemy
back toward the Rhine.
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 opinion that the only
hope of decisive attainments for the
allies in the west lies in rolling up the
German right flank. where 1t reaches
the sea in Belgium.
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 seriously impaired as to make
1t ineffective.
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 Ger
mans, for 1t would be necessary to
force a landing behind their line and
force the whole right flank back from
the sea as a result.
/ The price of victory of this nature
against the U-boats and German shore
batteries probably would he appalling, and
| there is nothing to indicate that the effort
is being seriously considered at the
present. 1t cannot be questioned, however
that many army men both In Great Britain
and the United States favor some such
desperate attempt to bring the struggle
to a conclusion.
Reports received from France, officia
and unofficial, so far as known, give nc
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 it. Even the
Russian disaster does not affect that situa
| ton. But to gather the necessary strength
for successful offensive will take time
and ample sea transportation facilities Il
the United States is to furnish the needed
surplus of men, airplanes, munitions ant
food.
The transportation problem before thu
| United States, both on land and sea. er.
constantly increasing in scope. 1t seem.
to be certain now that whole railroad sys
TENS will have to be set up in Franc,
to give the American line the flow of wal
materials and men that it must have t.
press home an attack.
There is an old military rule that 9
fortified position cannot be taken by di
rect attack. but must be turned or iso
the allied offensive has consisted only
of direct attacks against line of forti
fcations stronger than any form of for
mer days.
1t is the belief of some military me,
mere that no breech can be made fo
many months through the German lin,
or sufficient width to permit such opera
tions IN the rear as would force rollins
up OF the entire German front.
Admitting all these points. however
there Is no sign of encouragement amonl
American officials. President Wilson
declaration that the nation, not merel,
an army. must be made ready for war /
being carried out determinedly, and an
parently with confidence that in tim
men and supplies can be got to Franc
In sufficient force to make certain tn
result.