Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-30
GREAT UNEAs|NEss FELT
OVER RUSSIAN SITUATION
Disquieting Unofficial Reports Cause
Anxiety In Every Allied
Capital.
GERMANY USING INFLUENCE
Separate Peace Settlement With Ber-
lin Government Would Mea
Change In Warfare, Throwing Far
Greater Burden on United States.


Especial To The Times Dispatch
WASHINGTON. April 2o.-Anxiety
over political conditions in Russia with
tho possibility Of a separate peace be-
tween that country and Germany is no
longer disguised In Washington. In
fact. IT has been heightened as Il result
OF the conferences between administra-
lion officials and the members of the
British and French commissions.
More or less rcasSurinS messages
continue to come from Ambassador
Francis at Petrograd. but with them
come disquietinE unofficial reports from
London. from Scandinavia and even
from Japan. all Of them pointing TO the
unstable regime which has succeeded
the monarchy. and TO tho Internal agi-
tation of Socialists and German pro-
pagandIsts for separate settlement OF
differences between Russia and tho
Central powers.
And II Is easy to sec what changes
In the conduct OF the war would come
if Russia dropped out Of the entente.
A far greater burden would fall upon
tho United States and an Infinitely
moro desperate conflict would taIte
place on tho western front. In some
quarters It IS believed that this coun-
enough mon into tho night to counter
balance the great army which Ger
many and Austria arc now compelled
TO employ in holding the Russians
back.
GERMANY WOULD Turn
TO RUSSIA FOR AID
The economic phase or such a sit
uation Ia a S important or perhaps more
a INF
1t. With Russia out of the war. Ger
many would inevitably turn to that
country for tho food which she must
have II she II 10 continue lighting in
definitely. II their food supply prob
lem could be solved by an agreement
with Russia. the present entente block
ado OF the Germans Will have been de-
feated and the whole course of the
entente offensive will have 10 he re-
cast.
These are the reasons for the acute
uneasiness which is felt over the Rus
sian situation in every allied capital.
Russian capi,ulation would not neccs-
sarily mean German victory, but II
would mean the prolongation OF the
war and far greater sacrifices than
have yet been made by any OF the be-
ligerents. save. perhaps. Belgium and
Serbia. II would mean that American
man-powcr would he required to a far
greater extent than otherwise. and
still greater drains upon American
food and munition supplies.
1t is true that the Russian revolution
was grounded in the popular belief,
that the Romanon regime was honey
combed with German intrigue. and was
about TO surrender to German In
N @
iionists therefore would seen, to
strengthen the entente bond, and no
doubt would. but for the unsteady con-
troll which the Duma government has
over the country. At best this con-
troll is only nominal. II commands vol
untary allegiance only. and canno;
establish itself upon firm foundation
until elections have been held and
strong central government has been
founded.
DISTURBING ELEMENTS
WITHIN THE EMPIRE.
Meantime there arc various disturb
ing elements within the Russian en-
pire The agrarian question is far
from settled. and furloughed soldiers
are selling the property of the old
landowners. Peasants everywhere arc
Given taste OF their hrst real power,
and riots have been numerous There
have been infinite labor troubles and
the question OF food supplies has no;
been answered. On top OF all these
internal difficulties has come the per
sistcnt campaign OF German agents in
behalf OF s,bar rate peace, and there
is reason to believe that the Russians
in many sections arc listening TO these
purSuasions.
Aside from all that, the royalist fac
ton Is still potential, though II has
been completely overthrown. The ad.
herents of the Gear have been given no
voice whatever in tho Duma govern
ment. and, a result. they arc sui
len, II not actually defiant. Grand Duke
Nicholas. tho foremost soldier in the
empire. was brought to Pctrograd and
offered the command-in chief OF the
Russian armies, then deprived Of it
because OF the Royalist leanings.
Russia also ia crippled Industrial
~. She is unable to munition her
armies. though so far has been able
to feed them and her civilian popu-
lation. Japan has undertaken to
provide Russia ammunition, but this
must be delivered by the ovcr-crowd-
ed Siberian Railway. The ports OF
Arthansel and Vladivostok are piled
high with military stores which can
not be moved. The local railway
lines have been as incapable OF meet
ing the military necessities as has the
transconttnental line
{ These arc some of the discourage
-ing conditions prevailing in Russia.
definite knowledge Of which has been
communicated TO this government
since the British and Franco commits
sioners arrived. This knowledge has
caused the whole administration to
take a far more serious view OF the
part which the United States will have
to play In the war and more than ever
influenced the administration to stand
uncoInpromisingly for legislation under
which great American army might
be raised.
NEW MILITARY PROBLEM