Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-11-09
FRIDAY ............ NOVEMBER 8, 1917.
The Cold Facts

II was common on the streets of Honolulu yester
day to hear remarking, .'Well, see Russia has
finally gone. That means we've got to get into il
harder than ever" -.-.."
This comment sums up the situation about as
succncty as it can be summed up There is no blink
ing the gravity of yesterdays news. There is nc
Shutting ones eyes to the double burden which falls
upon the United States -
Russia may develop strong man. able to force
himself to the top by individual effort and initiative
and once there, to gather around him a strong cab
net, organize a government reorganize army,
put down sedtiOn and German corruption, revive
he military spirit now at low ebb and once again
4 axe up the fight against the Central Powers.
But the task is colossal that it seems impossi-
DE. The chances are a thousand to one no such
nan will be developed this year, and by next spring
Germany may again have an army on the east ready
smash the last lingering vestiges of resistance out
{ the shattered Russians and march VIGOROUSLY
hto Petrograd. When there is no government in
Fetrograd, there will be no government 20 move out
nd further into the interior, keeping alive SEM
lance of political organization. And without such
ganization the whole of Russia is likely to be I'M
er German control, separate peace made hun
reds of thousands of ablebodied German prisoners
eleased and the great granaries and other re-
purees of Russia placed at the disposal of the Cen
ral Powers. .
This is gloomy picture, but it is picture WHICH
ust be faced by Americans
There are of course other possibilities. There is
Xix that Japan will send an army to Russia to hold
be eastern front. Even should the Russians allow
he Japanese to come through their country without
pposition the difficulties of transport across the
i'm Siberian line are almost insuperable this win
sr japan would have to send million men or SO,
nd the problem of sending, equipping and feeding
his army with the vast volume of hospital attend
nce and other accessories necessary is one to stag
er any nation.
. IT is conceivable that the Russian army OF the
aucasus. which seems still to have some effective
ess may be brought into use, and just possibly the
ther Allies might be able to put some men on the
astern front. but the political, economic and mill,
'bry barriers against activity by the Allies on the
Russian front are very, very formidable.
Yet nothing is more certain than that Russas de-
lection will not bring Teuton victory. 1t is seri-
us but not fatal blow to the Allies. So tremen-
Gus are the issues involved in this war, and So
Enormous are the factors working on the side of the
Niles that Russias loss can be overcome. But we
|nust realize the redoubled bitterness of the
|hugge.
More than ever must entire national resources
modified for the war. More than ever must our
ldvidual and national energies be centralized on
inning the
1t has bee1 often said that America will not
lilly wake up until have suffereda large loss OF
en- in Europe. Let it be said no longer If any
an or woman in the United States is not fully
walked up now, with Russia collapsed and Italy
cling under German blows, no torpedoed trans
srt nor slaughtered American army in the west
IN sound the alarm for that man or woman.
Yesterdays facts that sort TO wake us up.