Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-16
RUSSIA AND THE WAR

The sequence OF events at the beginning Of the war
was only remotely related to the real cause Of the war.
That cause, as Is now we'll understood, was the determ-
ination Of the Pruaian military caste to extend and per-
petuate its power until it should dominate the world.
To that end a war was necessary, and. when the time
was considered ripe. war would have been preoipitated.
To begin such a war an immediate cause. IL not neces-
sary. was at least desirable. Advantage could be taken
OF some independent event. or. failing that, the necessary
incident could have been arranged.
In the present case the provocative incident &C.
CURED Independently. 70 tar Is the world 10 informed.
The Austrian archduke was murdered, and the Austrian
authorities alleged that the murder was the result Of =
Serbian plot. Austria demanded a form Of reparaton
which amounted to making Serbia an Austrian prov
tnoe. The penslty of disobedience was instant war.
At that point Russia entered upon the scene. This
IL interesting in view Of the current developments. Aside
from the two principals to the original controversy.
Russia was the FIRST nation to take a hand in tho pro-
ceedings. Russia notified Austria that If the highland
ed proceedings with reference to Serbia were continued.
she. Russia, must come to the aid Of the smaller king
dom with her armed forces. Germany stepped in and
menanced Russia. France declared that she would
light in aid Of Russia, with which power she was in close
alliance. Belgium was invaded and Great Britain de-
clared war.
Russia, the first Of the outside to enter formally In
TO the original controversy. is the first great power
which seems likely to become eliminated from the con-
hict. So many elements enter into the Russian situa-
uon that outside opinion must be subject to change from
day to day. There is practically no possibility that
Russda will change front aud become the ally Of the
central powers There is little greater probability that
she will conclude a separate peace with them or any of
them. That Is possible. but improbable. There is a
strong enough realization In Russia Of what the German
menace means to hold the nation back from any
formal step which would leave 1t at the mercy OF q VIC
torious Germany after the western powers have been dis
posed OF. What Is more likely Is that the disorganiza-
don and Generalization following the political revolution
will leave the nation in suoh condition that It can take
no effective action Of any kind. and that as q military
factor 1t has disappeared entirely. We may expect to
see Russian armies maintained along tho eastern front
But with the various groups playing at cross purposes
with no settled policy to bs pursued. and with no strong
hand to grasp and direct the military Movements Rus
STA can do little moro than mark time.
II tho Russian situation works out in this way, the
most probable result will not DO q great German move
ment eastward. We may expect, rather, to see the east
ern lines remain practically unchanged, the Germans
uke the Russians, marking time. In that case vast
numbers OF German troops will be released from duty on
tho east front, to concentrate in France and Belgium IN
a supreme effort to check the entente advance and te
smash a way through before American troops can be
got into action. That, according to most military writ
ers, will be the probable result Of the breaking down Of
the. Russian effective strength