New-York tribune., 1917-07-03
Russia Awakens

Inc new huSSldn OilSllSlNS III ON''~N
may turn out to be only "nibbling' vent
ure, instead of drive of vast dimensions
and sustained power like Brusilof's irrup-
ton into Galicia and Bukowna year ago.
The capture of 10000 prisoners IN the
course Of the first days operations sug-
pests that the Austrian forces on the East
front have again been taken at 4 disad-
vantage by surprise attack. That front
has been weakened for months past to
meet the Italian offensive on the Carso
Plateau. Overconfdence in the passvlty
Of the Russian armies may have led to
dangerous thinning of the line in Gallcia
and given Brusiloff another tempting op-
portunity-to strike for Lemberg
1t is too early to hazard guess as to the
staying power of the new offensive Ihat
it was planned ahead is proved by the fact
that our government was informed some
time ago that Russian drive would begin
On July /. The discipline of the Russian
armies may not have been sufficiently re-
stored to sustain a forward movement at
all comparable to last years. Munitions
supplies may also be more limited than
they were in 1916. But the mere fact that
the new advance represents a concerted
effort on the part of the new Russian gov
ernment-that it ends definitely a long
period of half-recognized armistice-gives
il an Importance far above and beyond its
actual or probable military results.
Russia has, in fact, announced her re-
entry into the war. The Berlin bulletins
speak of the drive as a result of pressure
from the Western allies on the Provisional
Government. But that tells only small
fraction of the truth. Pressure from
the Western allies would have little effect
on either the Provisional Government or
the military chiefs if it were not seconded
by determination on the part of the Rus
sian people to renew the war. The ma
tional Council of Soldiers and Workers
voted recently for a continuation Of the
fight against Germany, whose intentions
with regard to the restoration of the Rus
sian territory she now holds remain un-
disclosed and enigmatical.
German agents have been trying to con-
vince the Russian people that the Kaiser's
government cordially accepts the principle
of no indemnties and no annexations. But
Il boc cfrbborrlHy do
clned to commit itself on that point, and
the Pan-Germanist factions are still clam
oring for the retention of Poland and the
Baltic provinces. The abortive Stockholm
conference proved to most Of the Russian
Socialists that their German brethren led
by Scheidemann, Bethmann Holweg' S
stool pigeon, were not true to proletarian
ideals in their work for peace. They placed
German victory ahead of peace and were
unwilling to commit themselves to any
readjustment of political control at home
which would put it within the German
proletariat's power to deal on a basis of
international solidarity with the prole-
tariats of other nations.
The impossibility of a settlement be-
tween free Russia and autocratic Germany
has been borne in on the Russian people
They are beginning to realize that the only
way to get a real peace is to break down
the military power Of Germany. The
\ Eohenzolern dynasty is the greatest OBJ
stacle to-day 20 a rapprochement between
y Russian socialism and German socialism
II is this conviction, more than anything
else, perhaps, which accounts for Russia's
sudden reentry into the war.
The Russian armies which will continue
the war will be armies Of free men. They
will execute a national purpose which they
have had a part in formulating and with
which they sympathize. When he first
excuses of indiscipline have subsided they
may be all the more dangerous for their
newly acquired freedom. The peasants OF
Republican France overran Europe a cen.
tury ago. The moujiks Of free Russia, il
they are caught with the same feryor Of a
crusade against autocracy, may now elect
to trample German and Austrian imperial
ism under their feet.
That is the true significance Of the re-
newal Of Russian military effort. The
period Of war WEAKNESS, Of revulsior
from struggle without a clear purpose
IL closing. Brusilof has served notice on
the Teuton forces on the Eastern front
that The truce existing since last autumn
has expired No more German divisions
can be withdrawn with safety from tho
East 10 the West 10 hold the threatened