The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-05-14
Russia's Eject on the War

III FRANCE luG duNdnOC VI hAS
French and British continues, al
though the check to the British, who
lost the village of Fresnoy, south Of
Lens, on May 8 has not been re,
trieved. Both British and French
are advancing somewhat more rap
idly than during the greater part Of
the Somme offensive of last summer.
They are advancing along a front
about three times as broad as that
of the 1916 Somme offensive. They
are close to Lens and st. Quentin;
they are about as near even to Laon
and Cambria as they were at this
time last year to Bapaume or
Peronne. So far as the situation in
France, taken by itself, as concerned,
the entente enjoys better military
prospects than at any time hitherto.
Unfortunately there is the Russian
situation. The question of the hour
is how much this situation will dam
age the chances of the Franco-Brit-
ish effort in France. It may be con-
cluded that the overturn Of Russian
authority has diminished the Rus
sian fighting power more than any
reverse, or all the reverses combined,
that Russia has hitherto suffered.
That unfortunate country has lost
not only its Gar, a mediocre chief,
who could be spared, both in the mill
tary and in the civil organization,
but also its best commanders. notably
Grand Duke Nicholas and General
Russlzy. Worse still, it has cast off
to great extent the authority which
the Duma should have maintained.
That unfortunate country lacks today
not merely the means to organize its
forces or to establish a solid direct
ing authority over its necessary pro-
gression, but even the routine pow
ers to enforce discipline among the
soldiers, check desertion, assassina-
ton, and pillage, or in some cases to
carry on the minor actions with the
enemy. Conditions cannot yet be
said to show any sign of improve
ment.
Russia for the moment may be
treated as Germany wills. Unless
much worse of than the news has
given any warrant to suppose, Ger
many has now on her eastern front
and can readily concentrate the men
for an advance upon Petrograd or
Moscow; probably for advances on
both. Of her munition supply we
know nothing, save that Germany is
hardly employing the full amount Of
munitions that the surest defense Of
the front in France would require.
1t may be that the Germans are short
or that they are saving. In any case
they are likely to have advantage in
munitions over the Russians, whose
contract arrangements have been
profoundly disturbed by the downfall
of the government, whose own fac
tories are upset by social unrest, and
whose credit for foreign purchase is
affected.
Under these conditions Germany
has preferred thus far to treat her
eastern opponent with persuasion and
to do her chief fighting in the west.
1t may well be that Germany would
prefer a peaceful settlement, throw
ing Russian food resources open to
her and releasing a million men or
more against France, but it must be
in the Germans mind that revolu-
tons seldom of their own will make
peace. Like all new and weak gov
ernments, that in Russia dare not
provoke its subjects by signing away
its nations soil and ambitions.
Therefore, the German counselors
must realize, peace with present Rus
STA is almost beyond the abilities of
the ablest negotiators to arrange.
The alternative is a Russian cam
paign, triumphant very likely but
likely to lead to nothing of advan-
tage, creating only devastated areas,
starving populations, and still
stranger political changes in Russia.
Neither has Germany brought her
reserves from the Russian front as
yet to France. Their displacement
is no small effort. 1t would interfere
with the sudden offensive against
Russia, which Germany may contem-
plate as the alternative if peace eff
forts fail to avail. Some few d.
visions have apparently been brought
for the reason that they were needed.
The battle in France is in truth one
of the greatest of the war, not mere
" in size but in military issues. Each
side is trying to use up the other;
for Hindenburg, who apparently
drew back his troops from the
Somme in the expectation of a sep
arate peace with the Gar and a Ger
man return TO the offensive on
the Lens-Cambrai-St. Quentin-Laon
front, has been forced by the Cars
overturn and the violent attacks of
the French and British to fight in
self-defense, and without armies
from the east. He has been obliged
N change his DlanS eNtemnorize