Evening star., 1917-10-07
Critical Political Situation in
Russia, Where Kerensky
Defies the Bolshevlki.
WILL NAME COALITION
CABINET FOR NATION
Radicals Desire to Exclude Prop
ertied Glasses, That They
May Control.
PAN-GERMANS IN SADDLE
1(ilitarists of Kaiser's Realm Gain
ing Power Over Reichstag Through
People-Reforms Are Deferred.
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

As the days pass and IL becomes in
creasingly apparent that the British
armies under Gen. Haig can advance
whenever they see fit, and countless
German counter attacks result in moth
ing but extremely heavy losses. the
probability of a general German re-
tirement in Flanders grows.
During the past week the Germans
lost major portion of the so-called
heights lying to the east of Ypres. the
holding of which was highly impor-
tant to their general scheme of de-
fensive warfare. They for more than
three years dominated British posi-
tions The British by their most re-
cent highly successful drive wrested
q large portion of these positions from
the Teutons and today Won Hindenberg
occupies positions entirely disadvan-
tageous, in so far as perpetuating his
hold in the Ypres region is concerned.
Time after time the Germans. with
reformed troops and heavy weight of
artillery and machine guns, sought to
penetrate the British positions. In each
case they were forced to fall back,
leaving thousands Of dead on the bat
tleheld- British gunf1re reigned su-
pEeme- "len tne deTfnanlC
delivered in fear of further British Of
fensive endeavor-died down. artillery
actions Were continued. but when the
great batteries OF the British opened
up over an eleven-mile front to the
east of Ypres the artillery effort of the
Teutons seemed puny in comparison.
The main British drive, undoubtedly
the most successful from the stand
point OF casualties inflicted on the
enemy-a highly important factor at
hA 1%,r rhf n rx-t1
cause the German commanders further
perplexing thought. They must either
hold firm as they can and permit
their armies to be riddled by the Brit
ish. else they must fall back to points
more advantageous to defense. 1t has
been stated that the Germans. should
they be forced to retire owing to the
weight of British endeavor. will go to
the line of the Meuse, which skirts to
the east of the Belgian-German from
tier.
The falling off in submarine victories
undoubtedly will go far to influence the
German decision to retire in Flanders.
Once the Germans realize that the war
cannot be won with the submarine, and
that retention of U-boat bases at Zee
brugge and Ostend is not worth the
price the German armies must pay II
they seek to retain them, undoubtedly
retirement on a broad scale will fol-
low, even though the Germans will be
forced to go to great lengths to con-
vince the people that the retirement
IS purely strategical and not forced.
Won Hindenburg after his retirement
In the battle of the Somme made the
excuse that his action was voluntary.
He undoubtedly would make the same
explanation in case of wide withdrawal
in France. but there is question that
It would be accepted freely because
of the temper of certain peace preach
1ng elements in Germany.
Whatever the German plans. the out
90. f1nf hot hA
not hold the line longer than the Brit
fish wish. for eventually. though the
various stages may be slow. the Ger
mans will be vertiably blown from
Flanders. if they do not voluntarily
retire.
During the past week the Germans
have delivered several attacks against
French positions before Nerdun, but as
yet have been unable to score material
success. A slight gain in the vicinity
of Hill 304 was Offset by French coun-
ter attacks. The Germans apparently
have given up attempts to change the
ppesent battle line on the Aisne. count
less thousands of men having been
sacrificed in fruitless endeavor in this
Rection.
Shall all Russia be represented in the
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