New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-16

Field Marshal Won Mackenscn and Cen
cral Won Falkenhayn was with the
staff Of the Bavarian, General Kraft
Won Delmingsingen, up to the forts OF
Bucharest, and the entire talk of the
officers at that time was the offensive
against Russia and how they would
take Odessa and Moscow as easily as
they took Warsaw, Kovno and wilma in
the fall of 1915.
Even at that time Germany had con
centratcd in Rumania and covering the
roads from the Transylvanian Alps TO
Bucharest more than a million men and
heavy artillery, including two 42-centi-
metre guns and the long-range German
ship gun, capable Of shooting forty
eight kilometres. The reason given at
the time for hating the offensive
against Russia was "the time is not
ripe
Germany has been intriguing in Rus
STA since last August in an effort 10
make Russia agree 20 separate peace
terms. At the Kowno conference,
where the Kaiser and Hindenburg met
representatives Of NJ. Stuermer, former
Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Petro-
grad. separate peace terms were prac-
tically agreed upon, but through the
influence of England. France and Japan
the plans of the pro-German Russian
party were turned topsy-turvy.
Sought Control of Duma
Since then the Entente has been
working TO obtain control Of the Duma.
The revolution, which has just ended,
decided the biggest question Of the war
so far as Russia IS concerned 1t rivets
the Russian flag to the Entente mast.
II destroys the German hope Of sep
srate peace, and challenges Won Hin
denburg to make good his promise of a
defeated Russia" For, one of the rea-
sons why Won Hindenburg succeeded
General Won Falkenhayn as chief of the
Central Powers General Staff was that
he promised final victory against Rus
STA.
His policy. it is believed in Berlin,
is to hold the Allies on the Western
front, as he did on the Somme and
Ancre last year, and to launch gil
Cantic offensive against the forces OF
Russia. Won Hindenburg has been
waiting for the revolution. He may
consider the Russian forces democrat
lied by internal affairs and at last
"ripe" for a dashing, ruthless German
advance.
1t appears, according to dispatches
received last night that the Allies have
anticipated Germany's plans and have
won the revolution in Russia. The
Duma will now have an opportunity to
reorganize Rrussia's crippled transpor-
tation system and put new life into the
Russian army. The revolution is the
most encouraging sign for the Allies
in Russia, but the real crisis is still
TO come The acid test will be the
power of the Russian people and the
new Russian government TO withstand
a German offensive.
Vulnerable at Two Points
The Russian line which stretches
from Riga Bay to the Black Sea is con-
sidered by German military observers
TO be vulnerable at two points-one
on the Sereth River in Rumana. the
other in Nolhynia, on the Stokhod
River. where General Brussilof made
his successful offensive against Aus
tria last fall. An attack on the Sereth
would give German control of the
transportation lines to the Stokhod
front and open the way to Odessa.
This port the Central Powers covet,
because they believe it will give them
control of the Russian Black Sea fleet.
The revolution has brought about a
military crisis, with possibilities for
both the Entente and Germany. But
the indications are that Won linden
burg will have to make the first
move.