El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-05-16
IMMEDIATE INTEREST IN WAR
SHIFTS TO THE RUSSIAN SIDE
~ n 81

1HILE interest continues IN the situation OIL the
Nv western battle front IN Europe the interest is in
the military game and has comparatively little to
do with political considerations when take the Russian
situation for comparison On the west front, the British
and French are pounding away at the Germans and have
been making headway In all the allies have Tecov-
cred square miles ont of approximately 10000
square miles taken and held by the Germans Belgium
and France at the beginning Of the
The Germans to be disposed to stand where they
are and the sensational drives Of the allies have ceased
for the tine being Now and then the Germans recover
little of the ground lost It is likely that the Germans
viii make serious attempt to press their western line
again The tremendous pressure OF the allies viii
crowd hard, and since the allies have over
whelmng superiority number Of available IN NUM-
tion supply and IN artillery result long
viii some gains for the allies the western line It Is
probable that any large displacement Of the German
defence on front be accomplished however for
number OF years, the decision is 10 rest on military
considerations alone
From the standpoint of broader political considerations
which likely to end the than mill
ary achievement the keenest interest Of the moment IS
the eastern front The question IS Can Russia stand?
Indications point to collapse complete the
Russian defence. Germany viii watch her chance. She
VIII undertake hold the lines where they are
while massng all available troops for great drive into
Russia.
As soon as Germany satisfies herself that the morale
Of e Russian army broken, she viii seriously try for
separate peace thzt failing, she viii initiate great
forward movement probably southern Russia, where
an effort will be made to reach the Black sea, besege
Odessa isolate Rumania from Russia Such move
might concevably end Russian influence in the Balkans
hungary seriously
sian operations Asia Minor. 1t might be assisted by
1cint Fctrograd at the same time.
Russia is the weak member Of the grand alliance
The council Of wornen soldiers which is trying to
conduct the government and the by direct popular
which Is asserting its authority the
composed of 5000 members It IS hard TO how the
be successfully fought out under such direction
Britain and France found 1t necessary to impose
dictatorship and practically set democracy aside for the
The United States is headed IN the direction
thousand OTmen and soldiers VIII find It difficult
10 manage Russia When the soldiers decide they
do not desire a certain officer to command them they
either him resign they shoot him The civil
ministry shoIn Of power and the council Of SOTO tres
10 manage all the details Of the government
Il is possible that the United States viii find that viii
best the Russian side not the French
If serious effort Is to be made smash the German
military power The Russian frontier must be blocked TO
German expansion BY The western Europe
allies unable render aid Shall the United States
offer assist? The question to indicate the kind
degree Of complications into which this country may
be drawn by the fortunes of