The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-01-09

WINE the RUSSIAN revolution was well
under way and 10y the midsummer
of 1917 the final collapse of that GOV
eminent was almost certain.
The relatively low strength OF the
German forces ON the western front
led the allies. with much confidence,
to attempt. decision on this 'front.'
but the losses We're very heavy and
the effort signaIlN failed The failure
caused serious reaction, especially
"n French morale, both in the army
and throughout the country. and at
temptS To carry out extensive or com
hined operations were indefinitely sus-
pended.
Sank Millions of Tons.
In the five months ending .Iuue 80
German submarines had accomplished
the destruction of more than 3.2J0OO0
tons of allied shipping. During three
years Germany had seen practically all
her otfensiNes except Nerdun crowned
with success. Her battle lines were
held on foreign soil and She had with
stood every allied attack since the
Marine. The German general staff
could now foresee the complete elm
nation of Russia, the possibility of de
feating Italy before the end of the
year and finally, the campaign of 1918
against the French and British ON the
western front which might terminate
the war
1t cannot be said that German hopes
F
either as viewed at that time or a>
viewed in the light of history. Finan-
cial problems of the allies were diff
cult, supplies were becoming exhaust
ed and their armies had suffered ire
mendous losses. discourse cement eX-
listed not only among the civil popula
tion but throughout the armies as we'll
Such WIS the allied morale that
although their superiority on the west
crn front during the last half of 1916
aud during 1917 amounted to 20 per
cent, only local attacks could be under
taken. and their effect proved wholly
insufficient against the German de
Tense. Allied resources in man power
at home We're low and there WAS little
prospect of materially increasing their
armed strerotb ,,e,, il, rho f.,., of tho
probability of having practically the
vhoIa military stro,,.,tl, of III. Central
Powers AGAINST ,bou in III. s,,riu, Of
1918
This WAS the stat" of affairs that eX
listed when we entered the war While
uur artiuu ,I,.,Iii,. ,,,,,.,, .,,.,.,,,,r
ayemont v., hi, wa. t,,n,,,,..,,., mad
:, review of c,,,di,io,. mo,o i, onn.r
emf that \,ucri,., must max. T.. .,,,.,,,o
motnrial effort a. .ouu -, nns.ilI.
\fter dul, cn,s;,I,riu,, tho t,,,n,,,,,..
>ihilitics cahIcd the following 70
Washington an Inn, q lo,7
"pl,n. .l,a,td ,.,.,,,..,,,,l.,,. ...,..,i..,.
over al Iea,f lunnuOu mon hy next
May \ general organization project
covering rs far a> possible the person
mel of all combat. STAFF and admins.
tratiyc units. was forwarded to Wash
iugton on July II. In this stated:
Needed 900 600 Men.
"u i eyidaln ,hal - force of about
luooooo is The smallest unit which in
modern war Will Il. = eo,nI,I.,r we'll
balanced and indrpcudcut tiahtiu,, or.
eanizntion. However if must lao
ruIlally clear that the odolfiun of His
size fore. A. - haSis nf .iud, .hnnI.,
NOT he construed A. rnI,rr..ntiuo ih..
maximum force which ShopI1 he seut
10 or which will II. ror,lnd IN Er,nco
II is taken n, ih, force which r,.,v no
expected ~ reach France in linn. for