Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-03-23
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
AAS1ENS WARS END
WHOLE STRENGTH OF NATION
NOW WILL BE GIVEN no
ALLIES.

| teTHdllOndI SITUATION is 1ar more CRIT
ical than it has ever been, the belief
is widespread among army officers
and government officials in the ma
tional capital that the successful rev.
olution in Russia will materially
hasten the end Of the war.
They believe that with the revolu-
ton success. Germany disappointed
in her ruthless" submarine CAM
paign and finding her Russian props
, suddenly taken away, will speedily
be found facing such a condition Of
affairs at home as will demand that
she make peace, or follow the lead
Russia has just set And she may
follow it whether war ends or not,
say the experts.
War Promises Emancipation.
In other words, it is pointed out, a
war begun by autocracy to sustain
autocracy, and welding letters upon
the people of Europe, is now promis-
ing to be an emancipation. No more
terrible tragedy to humanity could be
imagined, government officials say.
than a war which numbers its victims
by the millions and leaves no compen-
sating benefits to mankind. It Is now
realized that at the end of the con-
| flict there will be momentous conclu-
sions that must transcend the terms
of any possible treaty of peace.
There is hardly a doubt in the
minds of American officials that the
greatest crisis of the war has been
passed, If the Russian government, as
now assured, has definitely been
snatched from the hands of Germany
by the Russian people. The liberia
ton Of Russia from the rule of the
bureaucrats and pro-Germans would
make the case against Germany clean
cut. according to official opinion. 1t
will be Germany's turn next, accord
ing to the same opinion.
Germany now remains the only
aristocratic nation of the first magni-
ture in the world. Officials of the
United States government are at last
beginning to understand something
OF what has been behind the cry Of
the Allies that Prussianism must be
crushed.
Reforms in Germany.
The recent speech Of the German
chancellor, as interpreted in the light
of what Russia is accomplishing, is
now seen to have been an utterance
of the greatest significance. To begin
with, 1t was made several days before
the news of the Russian coup had
reached the German people. lit is
believed in Washington that Germany
had wind of the Russian revolution
through her agents, and that the
chancellor did not dare let the Rus
sian news reach Germany before he
! had promised reforms to the German
people.
| 1t may be many days before the
Russians themselves know whether
they are able to retain the power they
have suddenly taken. So far as opin-
ions are ventured in the national cap
ital, however, they are to the effect
that the revolution already has all
the earmarks of success and that only
the grossest Encouragement can
bring failure.
Change Is illustrated.
\ Tho cinu1o foo< thot Dony NIlYr,H ~
is the new Russian foreign minister is
said to illustrate the great change
that the revolution already has made
in the effectiveness of all the Allies
campaign. Russia was one of the
Allies, and as such had to be consult
ed, but was consulted always with the
sickening fear that the confidence re-
posed in her would Immediately be
betrayed to the Germans. Plans of
campaign we're made, but always with
the disheartening convictions that at
any moment. through treachery, the
Russian armies would fail to do their
part.
Germany openly exalted in the fact.
But now, in the twinkling of an eye,
all this is changed. Assuming the
revolution is to make good, the con-
troll of Russian affairs, for the pres
ent,, at least, is in the hands Of pa
triots. Of whose integrity the whole
world is convinced. The man with
whom the foreign ministers at Paris,
London and Rome are now to ex-
change condolences is Milukoff. widely
known as a historian. editor, and as a
most determined fighter for Russian
progress. He was the founder, and
has ever been the leader. Of the most
progressive block in the duma, the
Cadet party. He is esteemed in the
entente countries, and is said to I'M
derstand Russian foreign affairs, par
ticularly that part of them having to
do with the Allies, better than any
other man in Russian public life.
Almost New Nation.
The revolution, it is pointed out,