The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-12-28

vasion and destruction; and those VINO
know the German people best and are
most sanguine that under defeat they
VIII set up democracy are most posi-
tive that no German would dream of
busting his rulers-if those rulers were
successful.
Hopes Not Realized.
IL Is no secret that at one time this
year very high hopes were held In
England and France for the Offensives
on the western fronts. Important "a
the successes gained In those attacks
have been, cruel as are the losses in
fiicted upon the enemy, 1t is now evil
dent to the world that the wider
strategic vision 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
a date too late to permit the Germans
to reap the full benefit of their cheap
~ 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 Ger
many draws from the east will not en-
able her to undertake q great often
sive with the slightest prospect Of sue
cess. 1t will however stiffen the stub
born defensive which, In the light Of
the present European situation and the
strength of the rival armies, seems
Germany's best as 1t Is her only card.
New Divisions to West.
Russia, however, decislvely influ-
enced the fate Of the western cam
paigns in 1917. Even though few troops
were actually transferred from the
east front. all the new divisions form
ed in Germany went to the west. while
the great Russian offensive that was
part Of the 1917 war plan broke down
almost before 1t 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 manufacture
ing resources Of the entente and Amer
lea been poured into France and Finn
ders, the pressure upon the German
lines would have been greatly intensi-
fed. Germany was able to bring TO
the west front hundreds Of batteries
and millions of shells that under nor
NAL conditions must have gone to
the east.
The result of the Russian break
down, then, made itself felt In the west
even as early as the battle Of Arras
and the French offensive Of April on
the Aisne The enemy poured shells
upon the allies positions with prodi-
gality hitherto unknown, and the
French and British commands knew
even then 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 Have Done Wonders. :,
When the battle Of Flanders began
the process Of transfer Of metal II not
men from the east has been In full
stream for many months. Under those
the wonder is not that
the heroic British infantry, with the
rain and the mud against them, did not
accomplish more. 1t is miracle that
they did so much, and the German
field grays have never had such
not even on the Somme.
But all the heroism In the world VIII
not alter such facts as those which the
Russian collapse has placed before the
allies. 1t is the brutal truth that
decision on the west front In all hu-
man probability depends on the num-
Der of American troops that can De
nut into line while the allies are able
to hold out; 1t is equally true that I'M
less that decision is obtained, or Ger
many surrenders beforehand, the war
will not be draw. Germany VIII
win 1t.