New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-12
By Arthur s. Draper

LONDON, Sept. 1.-THE situation IN
Russia continues to overshadow every
thing here. London tries TO read the
grave Petrograd bulletins with spirit
of optimism, but one hope after an
other is shattered by the startling de.
velopments in the country wnere ey.
peCtations of an early peace ran high
sfter the revolution had removed the
Car and his plotters. The latest re-
ports state that the Cossacks are loyal
TO General Kornilof and that the troops
under Kerensky's orders are on the
point Of combat some thirty miles west
Of Pctrograd.
Representatives Of the Workmen's
Council have destroyed the railways in
the hope Of impeding the progress Of
Kornilof's forces. Petrograd, it is re-
ported is quiet, but expectsnt. Little
hope now remains of averting a civil
war. The general public seems TO sup
port kerensky as the only official leader
IN Russia at this moment
II Kornilotf oyerthrows him. then -
the time 10 acclaim him a military die
tator, but until then, IN the words Of
Kerensky's proclamation, che IS a
traitor to Russia
KornIloff's army IS reported 70 in
cludc division and a half Of Cos
SACKS. while kerensky has . much
larger and better armed force keren-
sky declares that the whole Baltic
fleet has placed itself on his side. The
Sovlcts' organ, "lnveStIa,' declares
that within the last few days kornIloff
mas withdrawn gradually from PetTo-
grad many troops loyal 10 the reYoIu-
ton and has substituted Cossacks. 1t
charges General Lokomsky, korniloff's
chief o. staff, with organizing the
forces against those OF herensky, and
says he has concentrated considerable
forces OF cavalry between Pskoii and
DnO.
The exodus from Petrograd follow
ing the first reports of split has
evidently stayed wholesale arrests be
ing made among prisoners.
A Russian authority here analyses
the situation as follows:
Russia still has the will TO nght,
but the question is no" whether she Is
physically able.
British. French and American news
napers and officials made a great mis-
take when they attributed the desire
for peace in Russia TO conditions
brought about BY German propaganda.
/ They paid too high q compliment TO
the German agents. The first real de-
sire for peace in Russia was found
among the troops at the front, VINO
had suffered severely in the war and
wanted to quit fighting.
"At that time conditions IN Russian
cities were good, but gradually a peace
wave spread eastward.
AIN July | visited the Galician front
and for four days heard only swo shots
fired. German soldiers were eXchang-
inc vodka for cigars and bread with
the Russians. In one place Russian
officers went twelve miles back OF the
Austrian lines to dine with Austrian
officers. Enemy soldiers were frster-
rizing everywhere. Eventually, keren-
sky could get nothing without promIS-
ing il would speed peace. Since men
the shirt Of the soldiers has improved
but regret that | cannot say the
same for the people.
The economic situation has INT theEi
so hard, and railways are IN such o
horrible condition, That they ledi
famine in another month.
you must discount Russia as
fighting force, though she may keep
some enemy troops engaged. II would
be folly to expect anything more from
there. no matter whether kercnsky or
Kornilof gains the power II Russia
had no food problem she would have a
powerful army engaged to-day, but, un-
fortunately, her fight for sufficient food