New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-16
Russia

The revolution in Petrograd may easily
,rovc one Of the greatest incidents in the
war. ono Of the decisive facts in deterrnin-
INC German defeat and one Of the land
marks in human history. as it indicates
bringing lsO.OOO,OOO of people within the
frontiers Of democracy.
Il has been a matter Of common knowl-
edge all over Europe that for more than
A., wear conditions in Russia have been eX-
.ocdinglv bad. Ever since Sturmer came
into mower il has been increasingly real
ized that the influence Of the government
and Of governmental officials was being
concentrated not upon prosecuting the war,
hut upon disorganizing the national eff
forts TO supply Russian defects and Rus
sian weaknesses.
Al the moment when Rumanis entered
the war the control of the reactionaries IN
Russia was so complete that artillery sent
e. Russia from France for the Rumanians
disappeared in the Ural Mountains, while
vast stores of ammunition were held IN
Archangel until they were somewhat tar
oilv DESTROYED by German agents. During
tho winter months London and Paris have
been exceedingly pessimistic about Rus
sian conditions and there has been
growing feeling that Russia would be I'M
able to play a proportionate part in the
rest of the war.
So far as it has been possible TO analyze
Russian conditions, it has seemed to mean
that German agents and German sympa-
tbizers operating in conjunction with the
reactionary elements in Russia, have been
thwarting the national will and paralyz-
ing the national effort. A number Of
changes in the ministry, a series of incl
dents in the government and, finally, the
recent proroguing of the Duma have all
pointed in the same direction.
It is too early, Of course, TO say what
the present revolution means. 1t is too
carly to say that what seems to be sue
cess for the national party will prove a
permanent success. But due regard being
had for the incompleteness of the evidence
at hand, it is fair to say that it points
toward national uprising Of the people Of
Russia to defend their nation and to de-
fend their country, which must suggest in
many minds the uprising of the people of
France when 'they felt themselves be-
trayed by their aristocracy and their ruler
in the early days of the French Revolution.
For Germany any uprising of the Rus
sian people would be a defeat beyond all
compare, because the national will of the
Russian people at all times has been to
drive the Germans out of Russia-both
the German armies and the German inhu-
ence If Russia has at last awakened, if
Russia has at last through patriotic Rus
sian leaders taken charge of her govern
ment, her army and her resources, we arc
bound to sec recrudescence of Russian
victory at the frontier and complete
change in the whole prospect Of the war
The army has long felt itself abandoned
ty the government 1t has felt itself be-
trayed from the beginning, when the de-
feats Of Tannenberg and Gorlce were &C
copied as resulting primarily from treach-
cry at nome. The failure Of Russian am
munition. which led Immediately to the
terrible disasters in the spring and sum
ricr Of 1915, were consequences of acts of
ireachery and treason Of which the world
still knows but little.
The personal fortunes Of the Car were
= matter Of small consequence at all times.
He never was strong man, and he seems
10 have oscillated between the pro-Ger-
mans and the patriotic group. His disap-
pearance can have no meaning, and the
succession Of the Czareyitch must prove
mere matter Of form
The reported assassination Of Sturmer
and Protopopof is not in the least surpris-
ing. Sturmer's succession TO power more
than year ago was the signal for the be-
ginning of the campaign 10 disorganize the
efmy and cripple It's resources, and in this
campaign ProtopopoG played an active and
a maIign part There vas well authenti-
Gated rumor last summer that Stdrncr
- ...o,n,tcd d. mako a separaDe peace