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Show HOPE OF SHORT WAR DASHEOB! RUSSIA ARMY AUTHORITIES RECOGNIZE THAT MONTHS MUST ELAPSE BEFORE VICTORY CAN COME Russian Collapse Will Release German Forces to Bolster Up Teuton Line on Western Front, Where American Ameri-can Troops Are to Be Engaged. Washington No attempt is made here to minimize the seriousness of the situation in the war theatres in Europe. The United States is in the war and will go through with it; but any hope of a short struggle has gone glimmering with the apparent almost complete collapse of the Itussia-n war machine. The development was not unexpected unexpect-ed by many army officers. When the offensive of July 1 was started by the Russian forces, the most frequent comment heard here was that it was probably the uying kick of the old Russian machine. For the United States the Russian collapse may have an immediate and direct bearing. It will, if the German general staff presses its advantage, release re-lease additional German forces to bolster bol-ster up the western front, where the American troops are to be engaged. The German line in the west has not been seriously impaired at any point, officials here believe. Germans Improve Weakest Front. It has been noted, in fact, that the one strategic advantage gained In recent re-cent fighting was gained by the Germans. Ger-mans. Many officers here believe that when a small sector of the British line In Belgium was overwhelmed the Germans Ger-mans improved their weakest front materially. That view is based on . 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. Bel-gium. 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 eliminated entirely or made ineffective. It would require combined army and navy operations, for it would be necessary neces-sary to force a landing behind the German Ger-man line and force the whole right flank back from the sea as a result. The price of such a victory against , the U-boats and German shore bat- ; teries probably w-ould be appalling, and there is nothing to indicate that the effort is being seriously considered. Allies Can Hold Line. Reports from France, official ana unofficial, so far as known, give no cheering picture of what must be doue. There appears no doubt that, the allied line can stand against any force Germany' Ger-many' can bring against it.- Even the Russian disaster does not affect that situation. But to gather the necessary strength for a successful offensive will take time and ample sea transportation transporta-tion facilities if the United States is to furuish the needed surplus of men, airplanes, munitions and food. The transportation problems before the United States, both on land and sea, are constantly increasing in scope. It seems certain now that whole railroad rail-road systems will have to be set up in France to give the American line the flow of war materials and men that it must have to press home an ; attack. |