The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-05-23
KNOCKOUT BLOW
MUST Be GIVEN
BY ALLIES NOW
Other Plans Of War Were
FoiIed by Fall Of Russia,

WASHINGTON, D. c, May %
(Spccial)-A high official and military
authority has made the following state
nlent on the military situation
The war has entered upon its third
phase. The first was the policy of the
allies to hold Germany on the western
front while Russian armies should win
the war. That policy failed
The second was the idea OF eco
nomlc and military attrition. That has
not been altogether successful Ger
many was to be and actually was cut
off from practically all outside forces I:
certain materials became out of Ger
manys reach through the naval block.
adc and the rationing OF neulrals
with the falling down of Russia
that policy became less effective al
though It is still impossible for Ger
many and her allies TO obtain many rS-
scntial commodities, and the final re.
suits OF the policy depends very much
upon how well Germany, needs may
be supplied from Russia. which can
give her some but not all things she
needs.
Knockout Only Thing Left.
"Now the problem IS the defeat Of
the German armies In this, it should
be known that American effort alone
or not backed up by the maximum Ell
fort OF our allies, cannot win the war
II requires the very greatest effort, the
combined strength and resources OF the
allies, plus the assistance the United
States can make
we and the allies expect to get con
troll OF the air and 10 dominate the
U-boat situation. but the real problem
Is not in the air nor in the sea bur
in the. way in which the German army
can be beaten. The German armies
have obtained the initiative by their
spring offensive in Sucn a way that the
United States and the allies face an
enemy dominating the field and have
not the opportunity Of an initiative
themselves, but mus, meet the Ger
man attacks, being Of necessity thus
committed to a policy. without a broad
selection being possible for US The
western front must be defended, and
we are absolutely committed to that
task
Lost Chance in Italy.
"The question is, how hard are the |
Germans going to make their next |
drive, which they are preparing Will |
they risk everything. stake victory or
defeat on one battle one terrible ef-
fort to separate the British and French
armies2 The answer 10 that question
depends upon how critical and des-
perate the situation in Germany is
The Germans know; we do not
There is little prospect Of Italy be-
Ing able this year to recover the posi-
ton she won last year in her splen-
did advance against the Austrians
When General Cadorna was pushing
hhead had the Italians received support
in their magnificent effort Austria
Hungary would have been eliminated
from the war.
Germany would have been deprived
Of her strongest support, the Mittel-
Europa scheme blasted by the cutting
Of the line of communications between
Germany and the Balkans and Turkey.
and Serbia and Rumania rescued
Italy Still Has Faith
"The Italians believe today that had
they received support Austria would
have been put out of the war. Now
il will be hard for the Italians to re-
cover the positions and the only pos
ibility of it would appear to be
through collapse Of the Austro- Hun
garian offensive, followed up by the
Italians, but whether Italy possesses
sufficient material munitions and guns
to conduc, a sustained counter often
sive Immediately following the blow
the Austrian army is expected to de-
liver is predetermined"
II was believed here today that the
recent offensive operations of the Ital-
ian army. which carried the Italians
into Austrian positions at most difficult
points OF the front, have inspired the
whole Italian nation to believe that the
Austrian blow will be broken, and that
the Italian army will follow up the en-
emy setback with a notable victory. in
which much Of the lost territory will