The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1915-04-27
Russia's Part in the War.

One of the unexpected phases OF the pres
emf titanic conflict in Europe is the part
being played by the army of the car.
The first surprise came during the first
few days of the war when the armies OF
| Nicholas. always heretofore notoriously
slow as to mobilization, got quickly in fight
ing array and began to pour themselves
across the border by hundreds of thousands
81 can put a hundred thousand men in the
enemy's country every Monday morning"
the Little Father is reputed to have ex-
claimed and the numerical strength of his
forces has been consistently increasing at a
rate which must be disconcerting to the
Germans and Austrians, especially the latter
In spite of Russias geographical proper
tions it was believed during the incipiency
of the conflict that her part would not be
of any great ultimate import-she would
more nearly serve the purpose of diVerting
attention in a comparatively small way, just
as Japan did, while the soldiers of Edward,
Albert and Poincaire bore the brunt of the
stern work mapped out.
Instead of this Russia moved rapidly to
the forefront until today the attention of
the civilized world is focused upon the troops
of the grand duke hammering determinedly
away at the passes which lead through the
hitherto impregnable Carpathian mountains.
Soon, unless all signs fail, these corps will
be overrunning the adjacent plains of Hun
gary.
Close students of world politics aver that
when this takes place the Hungarfans,
themselves Slavonic in origin and pro-Slavic
in sympathies, will either frankly enlist I'M
der the folds of the Russian standard or
else fight so desultorily under the present re-
gime as to make their services valueless.
Austria, already sickened of a conflict
for which she was made the primary excuse,
is heartily weary of the losing game in
which she has thus far played an ignomin-
ious part; and, if her sister country of the
dual monarchy shall fall by the wayside,
she will in all probability seize the first
available excuse for retiring from the
stage of action. AS a matter OF fact, there
have been insstent reports for the past
month that Austria is even now endeavor-
ing to negotiate a separate peace.
Austria-Hungarys detection would I'M
doubtedly mean a speedy ending of the war.
The kaiser already has on his shoulders
about all they Will pear WITHOUT pIedhAuS'
They are sadly sagging now, and if his allies
cry "hold, enough!'' it will be the proverb-
ial straw.
That England and France have come to
full-fedged realization of what Russia
means to the success of their plans is evinc-
ed by Earl Grey's statement to parliament.
eve are now willing that Russia should
have Constantinople, he said in effect. Up
until now England would have resisted such
an eventuality by moral suasion or force of
arms.
In every misfortune there is something of
unforeseen advantage. One of the most
beneficial things ever happening to Russia
was the costly lesson taught her by Japan,
when "the game chicken of the Orient lick
ed the bear to a heartbreaking finish. 1t
taught Russia many valuable lessons, prin-
cipal among which was the absolute neces-
sity of military preparedness. That she has
not forgot that lesson, and that she has prof
tied by the teaching, must be evident to the
most uninformed and obtuse.