New Britain herald., 1917-07-26
LONG WAR AHEAD IS
OFFICIAL BELIEF
Great Task for Allies Before
Germany Is Defeated

Washington, July 26.-No attempt
is made here to minimize the SER
iousness of the situation in the war
theaters in Europe. The United States
is IN the war. and will go through
with it; but any hope of a short
struggle has gone glimmering with
the almost complete collapse of the
Russian war machine
The development was not uneXpect-
ed by many army officers. When the
offensive of July l 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. Most observers
were frankly skeptical that it could
produce any decided result.
For the United States, the Russian
collapse may have an immediate and
direct bearing. 1t will, if the German
general staff presses it's advantage, re-
lease additional 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 Bris-
sh and French have wrested from
the Germans any key position of such
importance that it 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 Brit
ish line in Belgium was overwhelmed
and it's defenders nearly all captured
or killed the Germans improved the
situation on their weakest front ma
terially That view is based on opin-
| ion that the only hope of decisive
attachments for the Allies in the West
| lies in rolling up the German right
flank where it reaches the sea in
Belgium.
Could Eliminate U-Boats.
If that could be done, it is argued
that the U-boat bases could be
stamped out and the only offensive in
strument of the Germans be elimin-
ated entirely or SO seriously impaired
as to make it ineffective.
This would require com bined army
| and navy operations on that part of
the Belgian coast held by the Ger
| mans, for it would be necessary to
force landing behind their line and
force the whole right flank back from
| the sea as a result.
| The price of a victory of this ma
! ture against the U-boats and German
shore batteries probably would be
! appalling, and there is nothing to in
| dictate that the effort is being serious
| w cOnSi6ara6 Of
| not be questioned however, that
many army men, both in Great Brit
| ain and the United States, favor some
such desperate attempt to bring the
| struggle to a conclusion.
Reports from France official and
unofficial far as known, give no
| 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 offset that situation. But to gath
err the necessary strength for a sue
cessful offensive will take time and
ample sea transportation facilities if
| the United States is to furnish the
needed surplus of men, airplanes,
| munitions and food.
New Railroad System In France.
The transportation problems before
the United States, both on land and
sea, are constantly increasing in
scope. 1t seems 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 it must have to press home
an attack.
There is an old military rule that a
fortified position cannot be taken by
direct attack, but must be turned or
isolated entireley. Some observers
here say the Allied offensive has con-
sisted only of direct attack against
line of Notifications stronger than
any fort of former days.
The maze of trnches, entanglements,
armored strong 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 one hundred miles wide.
1t is the belief of some military men
here that no breach can be made for
many months through the German
line Of sufficient width to permit such
operations in the rear as would force
a rolling up of 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 be made
ready for war is being carried out de-
terminedly and apparently with con-
fidence that in time men and supplies
can ge got to France In sufficient force
to make certain the result.
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