Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-05-19
SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1917.
GERMANY'S SUCCESS IN RUSSIA.
Galveston News)

Galveston News)
Germany may not succeed in making a
separate peace with Russia. The formal
repection of that idea by the executive
committee of the council of workmen's and
soldiers delegates l. rather a positive in
dication that it will not, least least soon
for il has become evident that this execu-
tive committee is the most authoritative
body existing in Russia. But even if Ger
man should be baked in this larger pur-
pose. il must be admitted that its intrigue
in Russian has already been rewarded with
a success that could be much more easily
minimized than exaggerated. Ii has at
least succeeded in paralvzing Russia a a
military force for the present, and, in all
likelihood, for a long time 10 come. The
effect of this success i to he witnessed on
the western front. II is only by withdraw
ing large forces from the eastern front
that Germany has been able to resist the
British and French offensive. II i hard
~ too much to say that if the Russians
had offered a serious menace in the east
at the moment the British and French be-
gan making their offensive. the Germans
would now be making their stand pretty
close to their own frontiers. Judged only
by the results already recorded. il is hard
~ extravagant TO say that the Russian
revolution. under German cultivation, has
been the salvation of Germany.
Indeed, one may find reasons to queS-
ton whether even a separate peace would
make n very substantial addition to the
advantage which Germany has already de-
rived from that momentous event. One
may consider the elements Of that question
without hazarding an answer to it.
A peace between RusSia and Germany
would be a peace between Russia and Aus.
fria as well. In fact, n peace between Rms
STA and Germany wonld almost certainly
extend to all of G~ermany's allies. Only
such a peace would serve the needs OF
Russia, and only such a peace could dis
charge Germany's obligation to its allies
Italy, in that case. would be almost forced
to make terms with Austria. for il could
not alone withstand the weight of Austria.
military power. This would leave all Of
Germany's allies free 10 come to its res
cue in the west. Whether they would ds
so or not is the decisive question: for il
they should, the Germans would oppos,
an overwhelming strength to the British
and French-and to u. if nj that time ",
should be represented on the western
front. But it is rather unlikely than other.
wise that Germany's allies would max,
much if any effort in it, behalf. Their
WEAKNESS and exhaustion are such thai
they would hardly have the fortitude (,
continue to endure their sufferings vicar.
iously. Doubtless they would refrain from
making peace with Germany's other en-.
emies, but they would hardly be persuade,
to make any sacrifice in it, behalf. FoI
there i little affection for Germany in Aus.
tria, Turkey or Bulgaria.
If, then, its allies should lapse int,
something like a passive attitude. the wa
would resolve itself into a contest betweel
the whole strength of Germany. on the on,
side, and that of Great, Britain. France
Belgium and the United States on the 9th
er. An opinion "a To the probable out
come of such a contest would be of n,
value. but one may be permitted the suy
gestion that, 10 win at all, Germany woul,
have to win promptly. For, with the Unite,
States actively engaged. the prepotder
ance of power. military. financial and eco
monte, would still be heavily against Ger
many.
Ii has been said that the great advan
tage TO Germany would be the opening N
of Russia as a source of supply. That. D
coarse. would he an obvious conSequenc
offs settlement with Russia. But all tn
account we have had represent Russia q
beng on short rationS itself. I'm food
staffs at least. Russia would not be abb
to supply Germany in any considerabl
quantity now. nor perhaps this year. Tha
il substantially true. too. of Germany
allies. Popular notions. therefore. prob
ably make too much of the economic ad
vantage which Germany would derive fror
n SEPARATE peace with Russia. Certainl
it is exaggerative To say that ii would nul
lily the effect Of the blockade.
A separate peace between Germany an
Russia would add much to the task whicI
its enemies have undertaken. but il wonl,
not certainly, nor even probably. enlare
il beyond their strength. Germany j. a
tha point ~ef exhaustion. financially an,
economically. and it can look neither /,
Russia nor ifs own- aifies for relief In tim
TO save il from collapse.