South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-30
GERMAN INTRIGUE
FORCES RUSSIAN
WAR COLLAPSE

d"
the war during the year 1917. That
the Russian military collapse has
upset allied calculations and will
tend 70 prolong the war cannot be
doubted. since the ineffecuveness Of
the Russian armies and the armis-
tice procured by the bolsheviki gov
eminent OF Russia has released
German and Austrian troops for ser
vice en- other fronts. end contributed
to the terrific blow struck against
italy By the Austro-Germans.
For a time. following the over
throw Of the cars government, il
was believed that Kerensky would
be able 20 bring order out of chaos.
Kerensky either was deceived or
was not strong enough 20 control the
elements that worked for his over
throw. aided, undoubtedly. by Ger
man intrigue and German money.
Apparently the bolsheviki, or ex
IRENE socialists. were able TO work
without difficulty both in PetrOgrad
and at the front Among che troops
in the trenches were sOwn the seeds
OF socialism, discord and mutiny.
The Petrograd garrison was won
over in much the same fashion as
were the troops at the front, and
the bolshevikf coup d'etat was &C
= fae
practically bloodless revolt against
the car and the autocracy-
The story OF Russia in 1917 opens
in January with political ANTIQUITIES
the resignation Of Premier Trep-
OF and the appointment Of Prince
Golitzine. what was supposed to be
a concession on the part OF the car,
but what was believed by many TO
have been a victory for the sO-called
Dark Forces. the political con-
spirators who surrounded the weak
minded Nicholas
Up TO March. when the revolution
took place and the car abdicated,
little OF military importance took
place on the Russian front The
Russians still held most OF BukO-
wilma. the Austrian crown land The
Russian lines al other points held
firm With the Imprisonment of the
car. and the rise 10 power of ker-
ensky. indications for a time were
that Russia's military power had
not been seriously impaired. Many
observers saw a revolutionary Rus
STA rising 10 military power as revO-
90
power under Napoleon.
In the latter part OF June the
Russians began the first offensive of
any size conducted by the provision
al government II began in Galicia
anG for a time gave every promise
OF becoming an extensive victory.
The key 10 Lemberg was captured
and il was hoped that the Musco-
vites would again invest Lemberg.
In the middle part Of July, how
ever. the first maximalist. or boil
sheyik. disorders were reported at
PatrOgrad. They were suppressed.
but were followed only a few days
later by muntinies at the front.
Evidently the bOlshevik leaders in
Petrograd had planned the muffin
les OF the soldiers and the uprising
I'm Petrograd 20 take place stimuli
tuneouSIv.
Gen. kOruilon and other Russian
army commander sought 90 sup
press the muntiuies OF regiments at
The front without success The
treachery of certain regiments per
mtteG thc Germans and Austrians
20 break the Russian lines. and soon
q disastrous retreat was in progress,
the entire Russian line being
threatened At the same time or
shortly after the Teutons COM
lnenccf offeu~ives i'm Bukowiua and
or inc Riga and IT'S occupation by
German troops followed soon after.
The uprising of Nornnom and his
prompt suppression hy Kereusky
preceded ny only short time the
revolt OF the Doishevik govern
ment with the establishments Of
like Nickolai Leuiue-Leou Trotlky
government and the Gi-ht of Kereu-
Sky
Len.ue rad long been au aeitator
against the provisional government.
4 price had been placed on his cap
ture. but somehow he managed Co
evade his would-he captors There
seems TO be no doubt that Leniue
was I'm the pay of the German gov
eminent. Trotzky had long been a
resident OF America. and returned 90
Russia when the cars government
was overthrown.
Facts regarding developments i'm
Russia following the establishment
OF the bolsheviki government are
conflicting. Apparently the bolshe-
Vik hold on Russia is not any too
secure. Gen. Kornilon arrested by
the 5olsheviki. managed 10 escape.
and Is reported leading a strong
force against the new revolutionary
government Gen. NaIedines. Het-
man Of the Don CossaCks is also
leading a large force opposed TO the
bolsheviki. Both men are said 70
be adherents Of Kerensky. whose
Whereabouts are a mystery
AS promised. the bolsheviki. once
sn power opened immediate neCo-
Nations for peace A temporary
armistice was secured and represen-
tatives sent 20 Brest-Iitovsk 20 con