Arizona republican., 1917-07-26
ALL HOPE OF SHORTENED
 WAR GONE WITH COLLAPSE
 FIGHTING MACHINE OF SLAV
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

Republican A. P. Leased WIreJ
 WASHINGTON, July 25.-No attempt 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 it; but any hope of short struggle has gone elim
 mering with the apparent almost complete collapse of the Russian war machine.
 The development was not unex
 pected by many army officers. When the offensive of July 1 was started by the Russian forces, the most frequent comment heard hero was that it probably was the dying kick of the old Russian machine.
 For the United States the Rus sian collapse may have an imme- diate and direct bearing. It will, if the German general staff presses
 it's advantage, release additional
 German forces to bolster up the western front, where American troops are to be engaged. Tho German line in the west has not been seriously impaired at any point, officials here believe.
 It has been noted in fact that the one strategic advantage gained in recent fighting was gained by the Germans. Many officers here be-
 ieve that when a small sector of the British line in Belgium was overwhelmed, the Germans i'm proved their weakest front mater ialIly. That view is based on the opinion that the only hope of decisive attainnents for the allies in the west lies in rolling up the German right flank where it reaches the sea in Belgium.
 lf that could be done, it is argued the U-boat bases could be stamped out and the only offensive instru-
 ment of the Germans be eliminated entirely or made ineffective.
 It would require combined army
 and navy operations for it would be necessary to force a landing
 behind the German line and force the whole right flank back from
 the sea as result.
 The price of such victory 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.
 Reports from France. official an unofficial so far as known. give n cheering picture of what must be done There appears no doubt that the allie line can stand against force German cap bring against it. Even the Rus sian disaster does not affect the situ ation. But to gather the necessar strength for a successful offensive wi take time and ample sea transporta ton facilities if the United States to furnish the needed surplus of mer airplanes, munitions and food
 The transportation problems befor the United States, both on land an sea are constantly increasing in scop' It seems certain now that whole rail road systems will have to be set up i France to give the American line tn flow of war materials and men that must have to press home an attack.
 There is an old military rule tha a fortified position cannot be take by direct attack but must be turne or isolated Some observers here sa the allied offensive has consisted onl of direct attacks against fertilization stronger than any fort of former day in effect a fortified belt from the SC to the Swiss border that is perhaI more than one hundred miles wide.
 It is the belief of some military me here that no breach can be made fC many months through the German lin of sufficient width to permit such or erations in the rear as would force rolling up of the entire German iron Admitting all these points, howeve there is no sign of discouragemel American officials Presider Wilson's declaration that the natiol not merely an army, must be ready fC war, is being carried out determined and apparently with confidence that time men and supplies can be got France in sufficient force to make eel tain the result.