The Washington herald., 1917-10-07

| II America is to take the place of
Russia. what does this imply? Rus
sia has raised and put In the field.
since the beginning OF the war. about
II, ,477 900 soldiers. She has lost. IN
dead. wounded. prisoners and invaiids,
5,11j.000 men. at the time when her
armies commenced to melt away. and
panic before the foreign enemy served
as prelude to civil war at home.
there were approximately 4.750,oo0 Rus
sian soldiers in the regular units, and
behind these, available reserves of
s,52s,o0o.
More than 100000 hghting men.
from present indications, must be
written of the strength OF the allies.
miracle may happen In Russia,
but II would now seem that the time
for miracle has past.
1t fs with eager hope rather than
the despair of a man who has but
one chance left that England and
France are tuning to America now. II
the Russian collapse had occurred in
February or March, the hope would
have been faint one. The firm be-
lief that America will "play up
and save civilization from the con-
sequences of German hegemony Is
the tribute of the allies to the extra
ordinary achievements of the United
Stats In the last six months. Not
one observer In ten on this side ex-
pected such solid results as are now
apparent.
A Different Position.
As the strategic position Of Amer
lea and Russia are so different, their
abilities to contribute men. ships, mu-
nitions and food so disproportionate.
1t does not. Of course, follow that
because 100000 Russian soldiers have
| ceased to oppose the Germans there
fore America must at once send S,O00
900 to France. What the alliance must
have. however. is a pressure at least
equivalent to that hitherto exerted by
Russia.
Expressed In terms of manpower,
this means not that we have to re-
place the Russian armies man for
man, but that we have to offset and
more than offset the additional Ger
man strength that the Russian COL
lapse enables or will enable Germany
to throw upon the West front.
Allowing for a necessary army of
occupation. 1t is probable that IL Rus
sia made a separate peace Germany
could bring ninety-one fresh divisions
against our front next spring." q
competent authority told me. Admit
tedly the United States cannot put so
many men into the line so soon but
those ninety-one divisions, IL the
worst comes to the worst In the East,
represent a goal to be reached and
passed by America as soon as pos
sible
When the United States has ninety
one divisions In the line the effect
upon the West front of the collapse
Of Russia in the East will have been
overcome, Each division in the line
! means at least twice as many men
in spots in the rear and at home,
ready to fill the gaps. The experience
OF European armies indicates that to
maintain hundred divisions at the
front for year, America must put
under arms not less than 100000 men.
The prospect of two or three years
more war seems appalling enough for
the United States: for the countries
In Europe. almost suicide. There is,
however. one hope, not lost sight OF
BY the men who most insist upon the
necessity for complete victory. MANY
of them believe that Germany will
OF her own accord throw up the
sponge as soon as she realizes that
| the forces against her. even with Rus
| sia knocked out. are so great that
she faces certain defeat.
' II, these men argue, the German