Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-05
Russia and America

WHATEVER its duration or final outcome,
w the renewed Russian offensive already
has taught one lesson. That is the %unutter-
able folly Of those threats Of turning Japan
loose on the Russian rear that found news
paper expression and some newspaper ap-
prevail a few weeks ago. Russia, according
to these accounts, was to be coerced into
activity by the pressure of Japanese army
corps on her Siberian frontier. 1t was alleged
that intimations to this effect had been given
the provisional government at Petrograd.
The stories carried their own refutation
In their intrinsic impossibility. This govern
ment, as a matter of course, denied all
knowledge of any such threats, and they were
repudiated promptly by every member Of the
entente, but they were talked about, in some
American circles, as though the course sug-
gested was the very apotheosis of wisdom
and justice.
IT was always manifest that the Russian
situation was not TO be so handled. Allied
diplomacy in this war has not always been
remarkable for its astuteness and has com
mitted its full share Of plumbers, but it was
incapable of threats the effect Of which must
have been to drive Russia into the Teuton
camp. The one way to defeat German
intrigue, to check the rising demand for a
separate or premature peace and to revivify
the Russian armies was the way that has
been followed. France, Britain and America
united in assurances of confidence in the per-
manency and the sanity of the Russian revo-
luton and it's leaders. President Wilson,
Premier Lloyd-George and Premier Ribot
pointed out the imposSibility of maintaining
any democracy in a world dominated by Ger
man autocratic ideals and German autocratic
arms. Promises of support, moral. financial,
industrial and military were followed by the
redemption of these promises. The mission
headed by Elihu Root held up before the eyes
IF R,1ccia Nrhich tho aroo ~ , th;.1,1-
and a dreamer. the vision of a new dispen-
sation. based on liberty, equality and fra
ternity, and extended to all the nations of
the earth.
The result is this wonder that to-day holds
mankind in thrall. The sleeper wakes, and
free Russia stands erect in glorious majesty.
The Galician hills echo the thunders of her
guns. Her cheering legions leap to meet the
foe. Trenches are passed, and rivers, in that
resistless onslaught. Twice ten thousand
prisoners lay down their arms. And still
Russia sweeps on and on.
There can be no more Withdrawals Of Ger
man army corps from the eastern front
to Lens or Nerdun, nor Of Austrian army
corps to the Carso or the Trentino. The
continuation of the present offensive in
Galicia might we'll result in the permanent
shattering of the Austrian defense, for Hin
d%enburg, sorely beset by Haig and Petain,
can give no help. He has his own troubles
ever in the east, for the guns begin to roar
at the northern end of the long battle line.
The first attachments of American troops,
are on French soil. to be followed in the
near future by hundreds of thousands of
their comrades. America, as we'll as Russia,
has startled the world. The German news
papers which speak of this nations military
cooperation being limited to a few a~viators
and engineers know they are not speaking
The truth-that they are talking to keep up
the courage of the German people.
Now is the appointed time, and we must
strike, and strike hard. If we throw all of
our strength into the combat, while Russia
continues Its magnificent aggressive, this
most terrible and destructive of all wars may
be ended within a year.