The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-07-28

the administration, will reach the STU
pendous total Of $17,000,O 100000, Sena-
tor Smoot of Utah, one of the leading
financial experts in congress, informed
the senate.
Washington, July 26.-The Euro
pean war easily can last until 1919.
That is the unanimous opinion OF the
nine American observers who re-
turned from tour Of the western
battle front. These men, all 0thcers
Of the general staff, made prelim-
nary report to the war college last
night and amplifed it. Later they
will reduce their observations to writ
ing and will tell in detail just how
the war now Is going.
While much Of the material they
brought back Is Of a confidential ma
ture, 1t is possible to make public the
following conclusions which these
trained observers drew:
Each Side Strong.
There is not the slightest indlca-
tion that either the entente or the
Teutonic allies have weakened at any
point.
All along the western battle front,
from the sea to the Swiss frontier,
both sides are constantly increasing
] their man power.
The British and French offensive re-
vealed that the German intrenched
| line-the Hindenburg line-is we'll
nigh impregnable under existing con-
| ditions and the attempted offensive of
| the Germans has shown them that 1t
is impossible to retake any of the
ground lost to the Anglo-French
forces. Consequently each side is
waiting and utilizing artillery in the
hope that some weak spot can be de-
veloped.
| Both sides are constantly increasing
their man power, the German answer
to the American draft, as has already
been pointed out in these dispatches,
having been to call up more than two
| million Of her younger classes to re-
port to the colors next March.
U-Boat Menace Grave.
The German submarine menace still
| Is very grave. 1t must be met If the
| United States is to transport an army
/ to the front-and maintain it there
which will be in keeping with the
promises that already have been
made.
American troops are very badly
needed on the battle front. While
! the lack of transports has made 1t
seemingly impossible for the United
, States to get to exceed 250,00O men
on French soil by July 1st next, the
observers suggested that every effort
be made to get additional shipping
even If it has to be drafted from the
allies-so that this figure can be made
100000.
| Americas opportunity to shorten
| the war, these officers pointed out, lies
entirely in finding real remedy for
the submarine trouble and in creating
1 uIl deIlul llCCL liiuL Niil bC bSItSA
than any now In use. The latter prop
| osition is the easiest, it was suggested,
as the submarines seem to be able to
keep pace with all suggested engines
to curb them.
Must Hurry Air Fleet.
If the United States is able to con-
struct a standardized airplane engine
of high power, and the experts now be-
lieve it can be done, it will be possible
| to smother the German artillery fire
and break through the Hindenburg
line. But until such course is pos
sible, these officers say they believe
the situation on the western front
must continue about as 1t Is, with mi
nor successes for one side or the other
at certain points.
Officials of the war college also
, realize that the Russian situation now
must be considered a real factor.
They are in the dark as to whether
Premier Kerensky can rally his forces
so as to oppose the German advance.
However, there is no general belief
among officers here that Germany
plans any wide occupation of Russian
soil. To do so would take too much
| of her man power, which is so badly
needed on the western front.
False Reports Harmful.
The various reports carried from
| Washington, which tell of enormous