Evening star., 1917-12-09
Fierce Battles Are Raging in
+. Mountains of Northern
....- =. italy,
INVADERS STRIVING
TO. BREAK THROUGH
Gen. Diaz's Lines Remain Intact,
Notwithstanding With.
drawals.
GERMANS TRICKING RUSS
Several Bolsheviki Proposals Turn
ed Down in Armistice. Parley.
Foes Planning. Down =
fall of Lenine., ="

fall of Lenine. :,
ing the arinistice period.
Lenlne truly will have accomplish
ed one of the kaiser's chief purpose.
and will have earned the German
ed than the complete disintegrstion o.
Russia's power.
The Germans are expected to. go
further. however. Complete di.ergani-
zatiUn of
Germans Plan to Russia is
Disorganize Nation. the ~ ors,,ion
of many Independent and petty states
each with self-government These
easily could be dominated by the Ger
mans because of their lack of unity
and cooperation. Other motives 1
previously have discussed and as de-
velopments come thick and fast. specu-
lation as to the Teutonic purpose and
Russia's fate under the boisheviki
is verified.
On last Sunday the bolsheviki armis-
tlce delegates met those from German
armies in the vicinity Of -Litovsk
gun. Prince Leopold OF Bavaria hav-
ing been empowered by the Germans
to carry on the parIey.
The Russians presented their de-
mands for a general armistice on all
fronts which was expected to lead to
a. general peace. In this they, were
refused by tho Teutons.
The Russians demanded that the Ger
mans evacuate seized territory on the
islands. in the Gulf; of Riga. Again
they were refused.
In fact. but few of the boIsheviki
Principles. as enunciated to the people
of Russia, principles which 1t was
promised would end the worldwide
Germans. The principle which the
Germans. The principle of self-goy-
ernment for various racial elements in
the east was a principle which the
Germans acceded to not only through
their armistice delegates, but throug h
kuehlmann and Chancellor Won Hert-
ling. This is well from a German
standpoint..fori it is a principle designed
to ,a tear. the the indepegsdspt racial ynts OF
ona conducive to the establishment Of
many little countries within the pres-
ent Russian domain. PRINCIPLES have
been chanlpioned, but the Germans
nave not taken concrete steps looking
toward successful conclusion of pro-
longed armistice with Russia. :
s.
The main principles which carried
the bolsheviki into power in Petrograd
are being con-
Main Radical s t e n ! Y
Principles Spurned. tbs e.rm.ns. ny
There is question as to what effect
this will have on the minds of the
Russian people when they learn that
Germany refuses, to consider for a mo-
ment the far-fetched ideas of tho. radi-
calls, or. possibly does not seriously
consider the conclusion of a separate
peace with the boIsheviki which it
considers representative Of only. a
small section of the Russian people
and therefore subject to ouster at al
most any moment by another counter
revolutionary outbreak. 1t is believed
certain that this outbreak will come
when the doctrines of the bolsheviki
have been discredited by German re-
fusal. 1t being already well known In
Russia that the allies will have moth
ing to do with the extremists IN Petro-
grad.
But will the guile of the bolshevik
succeed in perpetuating Lenine fnspow-
er until he will have worked greater
harm to Russia than already has beer
worked? This is the question OF the
moment.
If Lenine continues in power thre.
more months Russia will be many year:
in reha bilitati herself. Her powei
never will be exerted to the fu,les
measure in the present war. because
! seeds OF sedition sown broadcast ovel
the land among the more unenlirhtenef
masses are most liable to bring fruit a
any moment. constantly haxarding tn,
best efforts of any government tina
may be established. The longer Lenint
remains in power in Petroarad til.
greater the chance of an evil harvest il
the future.
II is declared possible that the Ger
, mans will avail themselves Of the pres
ent armfstice to strike in other direc
tions- The Germans have point blaui
refused the Russian proposal that tn,
Teutons agree. during the armistice
not to remove troops aeainst Russia:
allies in other arenas This is but al
indication OF the fact that Germany in
! tends TO make the most of the presen
situation. 1t is rumored that German,
hopes to strike the allies on the west
, ern front and deliver a kreck-out I.
ITALY before the new yaar. in the hop,
Of winning the war. She will concen
'rata q greater portion % her ulifitary
strength aga inst the aries OF othe
fronts Ienire has accomplished hi
purpose Of making such blcws easv TO
'he kaiser. With the speed which tn,
; Gern,ans usually transfer troops. larg,
eastern front to anv of the others, ::
f, test OF strength made aid trocns e,ie
fcient TO combat any effort the Rus
SLAMS later may make transferred baci
a-r,istce. >.
Tens OF thousands of Teuton troon,