New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-17
Austrian Offer to Russia
Believed Forerunner OF
Dismemberment
Turkey and Bulgaria
Expected to Act Soon
Petrograd Revolt and Will
sons Declaration Chief
Factors in Situation
Is, ARTHUR :. DRAPER
By cave 90 Tie Tr.blael

lB, cave 90 Tie Tr.blnel
London. April 1.-THE quadruple
alliance is breaking. The Central
Powers nave reached the beginning OF
the end. That is tho only way TO IN
.errrc. Austria's now offer, which B.
,ant.moan- 90 asking a separate peace
with Russia. Another cpoch-mahnt
ro.rt r ,lc AR has been reached.
Austr'ae peace gesture causes 10
surprise here; there is only wonG 'r
that it didn't come sooner Three
months ago she could have expected
an affirmative answer To-day there are
20 Sturmcrs, Protopopofs, or Cars
but a people united against Germany
as well as Austria
Though there is good reason TO be
'icyc that the dawn Of peace viii not
s. long delayed. mucn hard. cruel
.rltirc win come before the world
settle. down 20 normal living The
Austrian move will strengthen Russian
antf.Uar agitation. but Russia will not
make "a separate peace. ~ ls the De@IH-
ming. but the end is still many leagues
away. Italy Serbia, France, khg.aEI,
even America. must be heard from.
The Russian Provisional Government
is now in "a strong position. IL waits
peace. but not separately.
Two Impelling Factors
What prompts Austra's offer? Two
things primarily Russian revolution
and American Intervention. Great IS
nlsfr,a's food shortage Is, great a are
ac~ losses in men and money, the C
Are rot The chic reasons for her de-.
sire for immediate peace. Long ago
austria icalized that further fighting
Meant only greater misery and sacri-
ice Tor the Qua! Monarchy. Empero
Charles. young, ambitious and level
headed. mounted the throne TO lead 4
country battered and staggering, to rule
q people war-weary and depressed
lie listened to the Kaiser's prom ses,
stiFencd the army under his threats
and tried 20 piece together the broken
lines and drive on 10 victory.
Then came the Russian revolution
a miracle, a war-warning TO every
.utocrat Young Charles's subjects
grew restless. Next came Pres dent
Wilson's address 70 Congress, which
Acted he course Of TIE var more
taa- II 100000 men had been thrown
oto thc furnaces nat are burning Lp
Europe.
The Presidents omission Of Austria
from the list Of Americas en,m es
dealt terrific blow to German mill
tarism and paved the way for the
proclamation 10 the Russian Pro-
visional Government declaring that
Austria desired neither the anne xatIon,
subjugation nor humiliation Of her en-
envy.
Kaiser's Threats Futile
All the Kaiser's threats and prom
ises couldn't Offset this combination Of
Russian revolution and American dec
laration. Finally Austria, facing a
hopeless future, living in q nightmare
II unrest. distrust and dissatisfaction.
thought Inc saw WY out. Thus We
have her peace overture. couchcd IN
mild temperate terms. BL- y Is easier
TO enter Armagcddon than TO with
draw
4 month ago wrote what Britain's
attitude would be toward u separate
peace with Austria. Bethmann-Holl-
veg was then comforting with the
young Emperor in Vienna. The British
view was that if Austria sued for a
separate peace il meant that the
Kaiser considered her time Of useful
ness was Over-that she was only val
liable as a test for the possibilities Of
opening the door of peace.
Since then the situation has changed
considerably. The Allies aims have
been both broadcned and modified; but
England, though approaching the weak
ness 10 displays, will want n lot OF
proof before she believes that Austria
is anxious 20 quit because She wants
"to live .u the future in peace ard
friendship
Bulgar and Turkish Attitude
though Austria's offer fails 70 lead
10 az early peace. II will affect pro-
fouudly her course in the war. and also
the attitude OF Bulgaria and Turkey.
Bulgaria. liberated by Russia, is now
crying for peace with her. But Ferdi-
nand still Is supreme. though he dare
not face his people. II Austria's peace
proposal is successful. Bulgaria and
Turkey viii be eliminated almost stimuli
tancously Turkey az best cannot Lass
long. iu thc judgment of those best
informed. With Austria out, Germany
would be left alone 10 fight the world.
Tonight comes a report that the
Berlin "NorWaerts" states it has rea-
SON 20 believe that the German govern
mcnt is determined that when peace
negotiations take place 70 end the war
all plans for forced cessIon OF terri
tory shall be excluded"
Though intended directly for Russian
consumption. it is highly significant
as showing the growing modification Of
views in Germany. All Austro-Hun-
garians applaud their governments ac-
tion. while in churches special services
for the intercession OF peace are being
held.
VIII Ktchener's estimate OF the
wars duration prove true?