The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-26
ENEMY AT GATE
Continued from Page onel

(Continued from Page 0nel
All parties in Russia were awake to-
hay to realization of the immlnence OF
Il new peril to the nation, and TINS
&erved to smooth out factional diff
Ierences.
81 Government leaders are impresslng
fhe Russian people with the behef that
Hhe kaiser hopes to restore bureauc-
racv and the car to power again, by
taking Petrograd before the new gov
ernment can have completely organ
Red and strengthened the army.
Eliminate fractional Strife.
Z Socialist leaders are causing most
concern 10 the new government: Iney
favor peace at once-one Socialst
Newspaper even making the sugges-
hon today that Russian soldiers should
walk out of their trenches and frater-
nize with the Germans, with whom
lhey would receive fraternal treat
nent- Thus war would end and Russia S
Example of determination would
spread. bringing peace all over the
world
r The menace of the German thrust
sfowever. appeared likely to obliterate
Ahese internal discussions. The duma
leaders-social and conservative dem
Dcrats-were working with the reds"
members of the workmen's party, with
livery prospect of complete union thru
compromise to various aspects CT
administration. In the meantime, or
der is complete thruout Russia.
Agitators Excite People.
H 1t is undeniabIe that during the
Tlrst days following the revolution the
Extreme radical and socialist element
aimed at taking advantage of the
overthrow Of the government by SOW
Ing further discomfort among the
Horkmen and soldiers The cloudy
ktate of mind of the peasant popula-
hon, which bewildered by the new
Ct nf fraarnnN "a mr. a
having had little experience with lib
erty of any sort, imagined that it
meant relaxation of every kind of au-
4hority and discipline. made the prop
Hganda Of agitators easy at first. But
brompt measures taken by the gov
Eminent and duma delegations re-
moved whatever danger lay in that
direction. Telegram ms have been re-
ceived from every portion of the front
affirming that the army can be re-
lied upon to do its utmost to defend
the country. NJ. Rodzianko, prcsi-
dentrof the duma received delega-
ton from the army, which declared:
tAll officers and soldiers will de-
fend the duma to the last drop of
their blood. They will obey faithfully
the, provisional government and will
strike the Germans to the last man
Warn of New Danger.
Freedom from the censorship al
ready has had salutary effect in per-
hitting the truth to be published
about the new danger from a German
attack without the usual accompani-
ment of eXtravagant rumorS which in
the past made news more alarming
than the truth itself
The result is that without minimtz-
ing the danger to the country the
press has accepted the declaration of
the minister of war quietly and with
out alarm. The Rech says editorially:
1T is the people who are fighting
the enemy and not the government.
Therefore, hiding nothing from our
readers we say definitely and clearly
that danger is threatening our north
ern front. The enemy is preparing to
crush our valiant army which for two
years has defended the roads to Petro-
grad. The Russian soldier understands
better than ever before importance of
still resisting"
The Russkia VOLTA says;
Russia is on trial Won Hindenburg
will try to realize his old dream of
mpye upon Petrograd. The army and
people aresfacing a test which will be-
come historical. Results can only come
from an honest desire in the hearts of
the Russia people for victory
German BarbaTism RouseS French.
London, March 26.-The destruction
on which the retreating Germans
counted most to hamper advance of
the allied forces on the western 'front.'
may possibly prove the Teutons I'M
doing.
The spectacle of the utter. wanton,
brutal devastation wreaked on French
soil evacuated by the invaders today
had reused the French troops to such
a point that they were irres;stibIy
forcing their way onward, even over
coming some long prepared positions
IN advance of the "Hindenburg line -
St. Quentin is being rapidly APP
preached. There. front dispatches re-
ported today. fighting of violence
not eclipsed in the offensives of last
summer, ragged. The French have lit
orally been transformed into super
fighting machines by their fury over
the despoliation of France
-.- On , Sides of City.
1General Nivelle is evidently sharp
ening the point of his wedge extending
near Moy and Vendeuil between st.
Quentin and La Fere with a flood of
men. 1t is at this point that allied
troops have advanced farthest against
the Germans.
To the north of ST Quentin, Field
Marshal Haig's British forces today
were themselves forging wedge
above st. Quentin. The city is menaced
from three sides now. 1t is believed to
be one of the strongest positions in
the Hindenburg line.
- The British advance has been Slow
err but none-the-less methodical than
the French. Fighting of the most
desperate character is marking every
inch of the advance.