Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-24
FORCING RUSS
TO ASK FOR PEACE:
SURROUND RIGA
REPORT THAT CITY HAS FALLEN
TO GERMANS-ALLiES WIN CON
TlNUED SUCCESSES ON WEST
FRONT.

Washington. Aug Oyershad-
owing in Importance all other phases
Of war ana politics. The new Russian
situation doomed high in Washington
circles today
The report that the important port
OF RIGA, on The Baltic. had been taken
by the Germans carried in its wake
a trail OF other reports and umo's
of more or less alarmiSt nature about
developments ana intensified political
conditions in Russia which tended 10
bode in for Premier Kerensky and
he provisional government.
What the exact nature Of The new
situation is In Russia has not Vet
become clear
Mr. Lansing did moi wish TO pass
comment This seemed only TO in
crease the impression that dispatches
Of grave moment regarding military
disasters to Russian aims and to the
provisional government have reached
Washington in tine last toytyeisht
hours.
Refusal OF The Russian ambassador
10 be seen did not tend TO allay the
various reports
Officials did not disguise fears that
KeIensky was losing his grip and DO
not underestimate the possible con
sequences CT a vigorous German often
yive in he north and the effect upon
the peace question OF a more radical
Socialist government in Petrograd
onward to Petroerad," it is feared
in military. political and diplomatic
circles may be Hindenburg's new slo-
gan Taking OF Riga by the Germans.
whether already accomplished Or i'm
pending, would mean that Germany's
campaign in the East has entered
new phase It's effect on the entire
war situation, is not underestimate
IT. Washington.
The war will be decided in the
East declared Marshal Won linden.
burg to me on the 9Th of December
last. in his general headquarters in
the East
General Won Ludendorhf. the real
stratagist of the German armies. sit
ting opposite. nodded vigorously in
approval Of the sentiment.
That is where the decision must
fall that will lead to peace added
Ludendorh
Let the French and English run
their heads against our wall Of steel
in the west 1t will be costly to
them" said Hindenbure.
They will never get thru. and we
are not 'rying to get thru their front,
interposed Ludendorf1
Glimly doing his best to hold the
gtorming Anglo-French divisions in
the west his right wing in the east
resting on the Black Sea, north of
Cons ANA. Mackensen's German Aus.
tro-Hunearian-TurKish forces pressing
around the upper end of Roumana to
cut off the temporary Roumanan cap
1 ital Of Jassy, Hindenburg is sending
the extreme end of his left eastern
wing against the demoralized Russian
forces around Riga
with he utter decentralization and
INSTRUMENTATION that set in after the
Russian revolution it is regarded as
matter Of doubt In Washington what
real resis ance the Russian forces
may be able to offer With the fail
ef Riga, The way is open to the Ger
mans for a joint advance upon lane
and sea to petrograd This 60 opera
ton between land and sea force,
would undoubtedly le effective
Petroerad is abou, 200 miles ava,
with a direct railway leading there
Petroerad is the very heart of Rus
STA, milltarily In and around Petro
grad are 80 per cent Of Rnssia's wa
material factories and munition world
IN Washington military circles i
/ Is believed Hindenburg may endeay
or to strike at that heart of Russia,
as a means Of forcing Russia to max,
peace, thereby releasing more than
a million German troops in the east