El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-02
PLAN
BIC WAR BLUFF
Hope to Win Temporary
Advantage and Brighten
the Allies.

about by the end of 1916, which rem
dered the division of forces between
the two fronts increasingly burden
some. Every draft on the east front
made during 1917 to supply the vast
age on the west decreased whatever
difference might be made in the west
by Russia ceasing to be belligerent.
That fact in the present situation is
one Of great weight. It by no means
follows that because Germany and
Austria were unmatched so long as
Russia remained in the war, they not
only now cease to be .outmatched. but
become superior. The benefits arising
from a cessation of hostilities in Rus
STA had been for the most part eaten
UP in advance in the battles in the
west.
Trying to Cut Allied Line.
The third effect of last years
western battles illustrates the second.
Ever since the end 1915. if not
earlier, it became the enemy's hope
on the west to separate the allied
armies by forcing a retirement of the
French line between Noyon and the
Meuse. This was one cause of the
hurry to push the Russian campaign
to a conclusion in that year. It was
also in part the cause Of the attack
upon Verdun. Further, IT was the
cause of the prolonged and bloody
"AH the while a cessation of hos
tilities in Russia was being reckoned
upon as an imminent possibility. Not
only has the chance Of exploiting in
that way the suspension Of operations
in Russia been discontinued by the
using up of forces in the meantime;
il has been not less discounted by
the taking of German bulwarks
which were at once TO have covered
the attempt and formed its jumping
off positions; Verdun had to be got
out Of the way. Verdun, however. re-
mains an obstacle. and the Champagne
ridge and the Aisne ridge have been
added to it
Even il there were. owing to
events in Russia, a much more sub
stantial addition to German strength
on the west than there has been, or
can be, what earthly possibility of
success has a scheme for pressing
back the French line when our allies
have won and hold the wall? And no
other means lie open to the enemy Of
forcing a decision on the west. To
push hack the British front would
not achieve a decision, even il to
push back the British front were
within his power. He could not do
this at the end OF 1914 and the be-
ginning Of 1915. when he had a great
superiority in artillery. and when the
British front was as thin as an egg
shell. If he could not do it then, he
cannot do It now.
Allied Force Unbreakable.
The third effect, therefore, Of the
battles of the past year has been to
render the allied front on the west
unbrealSable by any forces the enemy
can throw against II, and to put It
beyond his capability to force a de-
cision in any event
at has been said that the next two
or three months will for the allies be
critical. but in no case can they be
as critical as the interval between
the outbreak Of the war and the COM
pletion OF the British preparations.
That was the actual crisis, for Ger
many was then much stronger. II
that crisis was w2athered, there is
no reason on the face Of things why
the present socalled crisis. a very
minor affair by comparison. should
be viewed with apprehension Moth
ing whatever is to be gained by dis
torting the truth.'-CopyriEh 1918,
by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.