Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-06-05
Russia and the War.CIOud

No critic of recent developments in Europe need
be accused Of being alarmis in saying that this
is a dark hour for the Allies.
4. 1t is hour when the SOLDERING realization OF
wars imminent possibilities must be felt through
out the United States by every American in what
ever corner of the globe.
Russia is through" is the common expression of
Rellinformed men reading the news from Petro-
grad in the past two days. And with Russia
"through,' Germany moves forward swiftly on a
new program, with immensely heightened optimism
and good reason for it.
The immediate effect of Russias weakness is The
detaehing of hundreds of thousands of German
troops from the east 'front.' and the placing of them
on the thinned western line. 1t is commonly esti-
mated that Germany has had from 100000 to
100000 men the eastern line from Riga down
Through the CaFpathians into shattered Rumania.
Even should Russia not make a separate peace Ger
many will be able to detach most of these men, for
plainly under present conditions the Russian forces
will not undertake concerted offensive.
1t is fairly certain that already the western line
is receiving achievements from the east. And it
must be remembered that the troops from the east
are not only hardened by actual experience in mod
ern warfare in the field but are fresh wellknt and
have the confidence that comes from measurable
success against the enemy The effect of these fresh
troops in stfening the ardbattered units which
have been trying to hold the Hindenburg and Wotan
lines on the west cannot easily be Overestimated.
But the immediate accession of fresh troops to
hurl at the French British and Belgans is hardly
the greatest advantage to the Central Powers from
Russia's impotence and chaos. The real advantage
is in the political possibilities offered to the chan
celery at Berlin. Russia is honeycombed with Ger
man intrigue 1t is no secret that the Trepoff and
Sturmer downfalls were due to deep plots with Ger
many. 1t is no secret that German influence is not
only active in Russia but active with impunity.
Germany needs food and munitiOn material al
most If not quite as badly With Russia
out of the fight tremendous field from which
to draw supplies is open to the Central Powers And
il Russia yields and either makes separate peace or
remains quiescent there other portentous poll
teal possibilities which the diplomats of the Allies
know full well.
So much for the possible results. What about
Russia herself? What hope is there for her to evolve
order out Of chaos?
Various commentators in the last few weeks
during which Russias internal disorders became
evident-have attempted to draw parallel between
what is happening in the great Sav nation and the
events OF the French revolution. They have recalled
that in 1892 and 1893 the French democracy com
posed of wildly diseordant elements was able to get
together and defeat the Austrian and Prussan arm
les and in the months following to carry out Sc
Fies of land operations which remain as one of the
worlds military object lessons
But there is fundamental difference The
French people were willing to follow commoners
the Russian people apparently are not. Preceding
the downfall of Louis XVI and the stormng of the
palace by the mobs, there had been many Years
when democracy had been coming to the ascendant
Religion at low ebb; rank failed to hold the
people in respect; political ties were almost wholly
absent Those three words LIBERTY EQualitv
Fraternity" had been received with immense popu-
lar enthusiasm. The result was that the people
we're ready to follow their leaders, and leaders
could arise from the people.
Somehow out of the remnants of state and city
troops and out of the ragged mobs. the French
democracy made new army to meet the threat of
AustroP russian intervention The abortiye hattie