WILL RUSSIA HELP GRMANY

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1918, Page 3

WILL RUSSIA HELP GRMANY

M. Stead, writing on “Chaos in Russia,” in the last number of “Stead’s,” touches on the possibility of tho Germans being reinforced from Russia. Ho says:—Everything points- to the imperative need of reaching a military decision at latest in 1919. Already, thanks to the super-human efforts of the United States Government, the Allied forces must outnumber tho Germans greatly, but not in trained soldiers. There ore a million American men now in France, but perhaps only 200,000 of those can go into tho firing line. But, by next year, the million now in Europo wffl. he able to take the field as trained soldiers, and if the transportation rate of Juno bo maintained will have with thorn at least another 500,000 ready to enter the trenches who .would have reached France iu July and August. This year must surely see the supreme effort of Germany, so far as man power is concerned. Next year our foes must be on the defensive, and our overwhelming numerical superiority should enable us to begin to drive them slowly hack. But the possibility of their getting notable reinforcements in 1920 undoubtedly exists, for by that time Ukrainia, Lithunania and the Baltic Provinces which have comp into existence under the wing of Germany, would have settled down and might prove fertile recruiting areas. Then, too, there is Russia proper, where no one knows what might happen. Thus, whilst 1919 will undoubtedly ho our year, 1920 might be the enemy’s. Therefore, it is imperative foc us,to get a military decision next year just as it' is necessary for the Germans to get one this. If both sides fail in their attempts to reach a decision before the end of 1919, the prospects of finishing the war in 1920 or 1921 are not very rosy.