The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-02
U. S. HAS FAITH

Continued on Page Two)
forced Germany to retain more than a
million and a half men on the east
ern front. With Russia out of the way
entirely these Teutons would be re
leased for other fronts-vast hordes
of Austrian troops included-and
Italy's situation will become i'm
mediately more critical. Russia s
elimination releases thousands Of
Turks fighting on the southern Rus
sian front for operation against the
British.
Most Critical Period.
That the entente and the United
States are now passing thru the most
critical period of the war thus far is
officially admitted. Between the Rus
of optimism here has cracked 1t is
plainly evident that there is gravest
concern over the success with which
the kaiser apparently is carrying on
his campaign to definitely eliminate
the so-called eastern menace"
Danger to Italy.
The greatest danger from a Russian
withdrawal is to Italy. If Germany
and Austria are free to release ad-
ditional hordes TO pour thru PlOecken
pass in the Carnic Alps they can out
flank General Cadorna's Italian
armies on the Tagliamento and force
the general to retreat to the Piave
river, it is feared.
Following several days of an at
tempted show of optimism the Rus
sian and Italian situations were por-
trayed in their real dangerous lights
today by the allied military authori-
ties here. While this is the military
view, the Russian embassy and the
state department are endeavoring to
get some official information on the
situation thru diplomatic channels
Mass of Money to Russia.
Since April, 1917, the United States
government has loaned to Russia
1895, 100000. Much of this money
was advanced at the crucial periods
when the new republic was going
thru it's initial post revolutionary
crisis. The United States thus pinned
its faith on Kerensky's government in
it's hour of need.
Lansing Criticfses Paper.
Secretary Lansing, deploring any
Interpretation of Kerensky's state
ment to the effect that Russia was
about to quit the war assailed the
Washington Post which printed over
brief and preliminary account of
Kerensky's statement the headlines:
Russia Quits War" He author
lied this statement:
There has been absolutely nothing
in the dispatches received by the de-
partment of state from Russia nor in
/ information derived from any other
source, whatever, to justify the i'm
preston created by the Washington
post today principally by the head
| line. Russia Quits War that Russia
| is out of the conflict.
"A reading of the full interview
with Premier Kerensky, of which the
| paper published only an abbreviated
and preliminary account itself, shows
that the headline is entirely unwar-
| ranted. Our own adviceS show that
the provisional government in Petro-
! grad is attacking with great energy
1 the problems confronting it. Reports
| received from Petrograd by mail and
| telegraph show that Premier Ker-
| ensky and his government, far from
yielding to discourage are still
animated by a strong determination
! to organize all Russia s resources in
a whole hearted resistance and carry
| the war thru to a victorious end, at
| the same time this government like
those of the allies, rendering all pos
| sible assistance"
Embassy Makes Statement
The Russian embassy also issued a
statement criticising the manner in
which the Washington Post presented
the Petrograd dispatches.
Russia is not out of the war and
has no intention or quitting" said the
| embassy statement. mo word il
Kerensky's interview gives warrant
! for any assertion of that kind. As q
matter of fact the premier stated the
exact opposite"
While acknowledging that only par
of the Petrograd dispatch was print
ed in the Post, the embassy statement
added, even the part of it published
goes not give and justification to the
preposterous and most injurious head
lines by which it was entitled.
/ What Premier Kerensky ex
pressed" the statement continued
twas only a feeling of the Russian
people that aid and support should b.
extended to them and that the en-
couragement from the allies is JUST
fled to a nation that has borne sucl
heavy burdens and is now in a period
of fundamental readjustment. NJ
word in the interview was intended t
express sarcasm against the allies"