Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-26
PROSPECTS OF BRIEF CONFLICT
GO GLlMMERlNG WITH RUSS
ARMY COLLAPSE.
GERMANS STRENGTHEN
WEAK POINT IN LINE
Bolster Up Waverins Spot on Western
Front-Teutons Expected to Have
More Men on Front Where Amer
leans Are to Attack-Great Opera.
tons in Prospect.

Washington, July 26.-.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 thru with It; but any
hope Of a short struggle has gone
glimmering with the apparent 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 was that it was prop
ably the dying kick Of the old Russian
machine.
For the United States the Russian
collapse may have an immediate and
direct bearing. It will, if the German
general staff presses it's advantage, and
release additional German forces to
bolster up the western front, where
American troops are, to be- engaged.
The German line. on the. west has not
been seriously impaired at any point,
officials here believe.
Germans Gain Advantage. .
It 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 British
line in Belgium was overwhelmed, the
Germans improved their weakest front
materially. That view Is based on
opinion 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 Bel
GUM.
If that could be done. it is argued
that the U-boat bases could be stamped
out and the only offensive instrument
Of the Germans be eliminated entirely
or made ineffective.
1t would require combined army and
navy operations, for it would be neces-
sary to force a landing behind the
German line and force the whole right
flank from the sea as a result.
The price Of such victory against
the U-boats and German shore bat
teries probably would De appalling.
and there is nothing to indicate that
the effort is being seriously considered.
Must Aid in Offensive.
Reports from France, official and un-
official, so far as known, give no
cheering picture Of what must be done.
There appears no doubt that the allied
line can stand against any force Ger
many can bring against 1t. Even the
Russian disaster does not affect that
situation. But to gather the necessary
strength for a successful offensive Will
take time and ample sea Transports
ton facilities if the United States is
to furnish the needed surplus Of men,
airplanes, munitions and food.
The transportation problems before
the United States. both on land and
sea, are increased in scope. It seems
certain now that whole railroad sys-
tarns will have TO pc set UP in France
to give the American line the flow Of
war material and men it must have to
press an attack.
German Lines Strong.
There Is an old military rule that a
fortified position can not be taken by
direct attack, but must be turned or
isolated. Some observers here say the
allied offensive has consisted Of direct
attack against the Notifications OF any
fort of former days, in effect a fortified
belt from the sea TO the Swiss border
that is perhaps more than 100 miles
long. 'a ta--rr r. . .-..s ..5e
1t is the belief Of some military men
here that no breach can be made for
many months thru the German line of
sufficient width to permit such opera
tons in the rear as would force roll
ing 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 ready for
war, Is being carried out determined
ly and apparently with confidence that
in time men and supplies can be got
to France in sufficient force to make
certain the result.