The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-07-26
.SH0||'RT t WAR
IDEA GETS
HARD JOLT
Collapse Russian War
Machine Nips Faint
Early Peace
Hopes
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
Washington, July 25.--No at.
tempt is made here to minimize the
seriousness of the situation in the
war theaters in Europe. The United
States is IN the war and will GO
through with il; but any hope Of a
short struggle has gone 9limmeriny
with the apparent almost COM
plete collapse Of the Russian war
machine.
| The development was not unexpected
ny many army officers. When the Of
| fcnsivc Of July was started w the
| Russian forces the most frequent COM
| men, heard here was that it was prob
| ably the dying kick of the old Russiln
| machine. Most observers were frankly
skepticai that it could produce any de-
| cided result.
German Line Not mpaired.
| For the United States. the Russian
| collapse may have an immedate and
! direct hearing. 1t viii. IL the German
| general staff presses the advantage
| and releases 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 ut any point.
officers here believe. They do not
claim to know specifically the stua-
tion all along the battle front, but they
are unable to see that the British and
| French have Wrcsted from the Ger
| mans any key position of such inn
| portancc that II can be used next year
| to hurl the enemy back toward the
| Rhine.
Improve Their Front.
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 tho 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 tttainments
for the allies in the west is In rolling
M the German right flank. where 1t
reaches the sea in Belgium.
| If that could be stamped out the
| only offensive instrument OF the Ger.
mans would be eliminated entirely or
so seriously impaired as To make 1t
| ineffective.
| "ust NuaSH from Sea.
Tho big question Is whether it 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 IA result,
The price of a victory OF this nature
| against the U-boats and German shore
batteries probably would be appalling
and there Is nothing to indicate that
the effort is being seriously considered
at the present time. 1t cannot he ques-
| toned. however, that many army men,
both in Grent Britain and the United
States. favor some such desperate at
tempt to bring the struggle to con-
clusion.
Effort Will Take Time.
Reports received from France, Of
fical and unofficial so far as known
give no cheering picture of what must
he 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 situation. But to gather
the necessary strength for n successful
|
Transportation facilities il the United
States is TO furnish the needed surplus
of men, airplanes, munitions and food.
Must Build Rail Systems.
The transportation problems before
the United States. both on land and
sea, are constantly increasing in scope.
II seems to he 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 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 entirely. Some observers here
say the allied offensive has consisted
only of direct attacks against a line of
iortificatlons stronger than any fort Of
former days. The maze Of trenches
acknowledgements armorcd strong posts
and fortified villages extends miles
i, 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 100 miles wide.
Task of Many Months.
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 oper-
4 ations in the rear as would force a
g rolling of the entire German front.
!. Admitting all these points however
f there is no sign of discouragement
n among American officials. President
. Wilson's declaration that the nation
e not merely an army. must be made
r ready If the war is to be won, is be-
u ing carried out determinedly and ap-
narent'y. with confidence that In time
v mon and supplies can be got to France
- in sufficient force to make certain the