The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-13
SimOnds OH the Russian Riddle.

whole war will be remembered here
after because it's political rather
than its military events In this
month the Russian situation has un-
dergone one complete change and
many incidental shifts. A world that
proclaimed the Russian Revolution as
the guarantee of allied victory and
the assurance of solidarity between
the Slav and the western nations has
been compelled to face. the possibility
that Russia would voluntarily retire
from the war or that the chaos with
IN Russia would eliminate the new
republic as a military force against
the central powers.
The riddle remains unread. I do
not pretend to forecast what may
come out Of the Russian situation. But
do warn my readers that it is idle
and unwise to accept each passing i'll
depreciation of Russian events, an
Interpretation probably based upon
hope rather than knowledge, as a final
disposition of the Russian problem
and an ultimate dispersal of allied
doubts. In my judgment it is highly
unlikely that there will be effective
Russian military cooperation with the
nations fighting Germany during the
present year and this means that the
war will almost inevitably be prolong-
ed for another year.
There is very large and influential
body of Russian opinion which now
advocates peace, not a separate peace
with Germany, but peace in the
world based upon the formula of no
annexations and no indemnities. For
Russia this means the remuneration Of
Galician ambitions and, even more inn
portant. of designs upon COnstanti-
nOple and the Straits. This faction
demands that the world shall make
were in July, 1914, and also consents
to the establishment Of free Poland
and an autonomous Finland.
Unfortunately for the allies this
Russian faction demands that they
shall declare themselves agreed to
this program in advance of the Ger
mans and very real split is taking
place between the liberal nations Of
the West and the radical and socialis-
tic elements Of Russia. because the al
lies cannot and will not accept the
Russian formula. Thus it is wholly
!ncquitable that the Russians should
demand that France accept the mu-
tiliation of 1870 as permanent, that
Italy should resign her claim upon
the Italians of Trieste and the Tren-
tino, that the Serbs and Rumanians
should be sent back to Austrian and
Hungarian slavery in the name Of
justice and honorable settlement.
With this element in Russia Ger
many is playing. She has not agreed
to accept peace without annexation Or
indemnity. The Russian collapse en-
abled Bethmann-Hollweg to face the
peace party in Germany and silence
it the other day in the Reichstag. be-
cause in the Russian collapse the mass
of the German people saw the prom
ise Of real victory for themselves
Since the Russian Revolution Ger
man depression has almost vanished
and at the moment there seems 70
be greater hope Of decisive victory for
their arms among the Germans than
at any time since Verdun.
We are bound to face the fact that
this extreme element in Russia may
force a separate peace when it fails
to force it's program upon it's allies IN
advance of imposing it upon the old
enemy We are bound to face the
fact that, even if a separate peace
does not follow. this radical element
in Russia has already so destroyed the
cohesion and discipline of Russian
armies that Germany has been en-
abled to transfer many divisions from
the East to the West and these di-
visions have temporarily slowed down
the British attack and absolutely
checked the French.
Now it may be true, as many Rus
| sian SymDa hiZcrS today assert that
the crisis has passed and that hence
forth we may look for an improve
ment in the Russian situation, viewing
It from the allied point Of view. 1t is
true that AlcXicff and BrusilOff, who
with Russky had resigned, have con-
sentcd to go back to their posts.
Therefore we may soon have Rus
| sian attack But on the other hand,