The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1917-07-31
PEACE HOPES
GONE GLIMMER|NG
THE ALLIED SITUATION GRAVE
LY SERIOUS IN ALL THEA
TIERS OF THE WAR.
BELIEVE GERMAN POSITIONS
ARE SECURE AIT ALL POINTS

U-Boat Bases. The Picture Not q
Cheering One at All.
WASHINGTON, D. C.-No at
tempt is made here to minimize the
seriousness of the situation in the
war theaters in Europe. Tn United
States is in the war and viii go
through with it, but any hope of a
short struggle has gone glimmering
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 / was started
by the Russian forces the most fire.
quent comment heard here was that
| it was probably the dying kick of the
old Russian machine.
For the United States the Russian
collapse may have an immediate and
direct bearing. 1t will, if the Ger
man general staff presses its advant-
age, release additional German forces
to bolster up the western front where
American troops are to be engaged.
The German lines in the west has not
been seriously impaired at any point,
officers here believe. They do not
claim to know specifically the situa-
ton all along the battle front, for
they are unable to see that the Brit
ish and French have wrested from
the Germans any key positions of
such Importance that it can be used
next year to hurl the enemy back
toward the Rhine.
Advantages Secured.
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 the British
line in Belgium was overwhelmed the
Germans materially improved the :
situation on their weakest front. That
view is based on the opinion that the
only hope of decisive attainments for
the allies in the west lies in rolling
up the German right flank where it
reaches the sea in Belgium.
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 elm
mated entirely or so seriously i'm
paired as to make it ineffective.
The big question is whether it
could be done.
The price of a victory of this ma
ture against the U-boats and German
shore batteries probably would be
appalling and there is nothing to in
dictate that the effort is being seri-
ously considered at present. 1t can
not be questioned, however, that
many army men, both in Great Bril-
tain and the United States favor
some such desperate attempt.
No Cheering Picture.
Reports received from France Off
clal and unofficial, so far as known
give no cheering picture of what
must be done. There appears to be
no doubt that the allied line can
stand against any force Germany can
bring against it. But to gather the
necessary strength for a successful
offensive will take time and annie
sea transportation facilities if the
United States is to furnish the need
| ed surplus of men, airplanes. mimi
tons and food.
! American transportation nroblems
both on land and sea are CONSTANTLY
increasing in scope. 1t seems to he
certain now that whole railroad svs-
TENS will have to be set up in France
to give the American line the flow Of
war materials and men to press home
an attack.
There is an old military rule that
fortified position cannot be taken
by direct attack, but must be turned
or isolated entirely. Some observers
here say the allied offensive has con-
sisted only of direct attacks against
line of Notifications stronger than
any fort of former days. The maze
OF trenches, entanglements. armorod
strong posts and fortified VILLAGES ~
tends miles back of the front on both
SIDES, so that in effect fortified belt
stretches from the sea to the Swiss
border that is perhaps more than 100
miles wide.
German Lines Strong.
1t IS the belief of MANY military
men here that no breach can he made
for many months through the Ger
man line of sufficient width to ner-
mt rolling up the entire German
front. =
Admitting all these points. how
ever, there is no sign of discourage
ment among American officials. Thai
the nation, not merely an army. nust
be made ready for war is being car
Tied out determinedly and apparent
ly with confidence that in time men
and supplies can be sent to France