The sun., 1917-08-26
RUSSIA ALONE
BLOCKS ALLIES
Cheered by Success on French
and Italian FrOnts-NOw
Aim at Vienna.

opec'os tooe Despdfch to The Sun.
LONDON. Aug. 25.--With the French
success In their great Verdun drive fol-
lowing SO closely upon the British gains
In the most important battle of Flanders
and the amazing accomplishments Of the
Italians In their fighting on the Isonzo
the military situation rs all or almost all
that the Allies can desire. The only
dark spot Is Russia.
When Gen. Maurice, Director of Mill
tary Operations Of the British army,
told the correspondent OF THE SUN last
Thursday THE italian Second Army
has already made important gains
which may presently become of the
utmost significance" he referred to the
possibility OF the very thing which is
now happening. 1t il announced to-day
from Rome that the Second Army has
taken Monte Santo. has broken through
the Austrian lines in several places and
is pursuing tho eeeing Austrians.
The significance OF this lies in the
fact that once the Italians break through
the mountain barrier they will hold the
heights. while the Austrians will be in
the lower positions. reversing the con-
ditions which have prevailed since the
beginning of the war. This change, II
permanent. means that the progress Of
the Italians hereafter will be downhill
instead OF uphill. with the classic avenue
OF approach to Vienna not a great dis
tance away. This has been the object
Of all Of Gen. Cadorna's desperate ef-
forts and II now It Is definitely attained,
1t means that the Italians may before
winter menace Vienna by the same route
that Napoleon followed.
1t is an Italian tradition that for two
thousand years no army that was able
to pass the mountain barrier in this area
has ever failed thereafter to win. Re-
ports from many sources that are pour
ing in regarding the progress OF the
battle indicate that the Austrian losses
both In casualties and prisoners are
probably the greatest OF any battle OF
similar duration in this war.
Wonderful cooperation between the
British and Italian navies working along
the coast with the armies Is feature OF
this battle. The superhuman efforts Of
the Allies In this enterprise are now rec
ognized as an effort to crush Austria
and give Russia a last chance to
rehabilitate herself.
Russian situation Critical.
Tho Russian situation IS regarded
with undsguised concern because OF in
creasing evidence OF An impending dis
integration Of the whole social fabric.
without which even the most important
beseechings Of the Allies and the extern
sion of the grea test possible aid will not
enable Premier Kerensky to continue
effective military efforts. The fact that
the United States, whose Information re-
gardlng Russia In recent months has
seemed the best. has advanced $780,
100000 loan to Petrograd is regarded
here as the most cheerful sign on the
horizon owing to the belief that Wash
ington has received assurances chat
good use will be made of it.
The danger is that great railroad
strike is imminent, while Socialist at
tacks on Gen. Kornllofr, the commander
in chief, threaten to precipitate anarchy
in the army. The Moscow conference OF
all parties and factions which begins
tomorrow Is regarded with misgivngs.
II 1t should give moral support to the
Government II might enable Premier
Eerensky to tide over the interval until
December. when elections will be held
for the Constituent Assembly that will
decide upon the form Of government |
and frame constitution.
This interim appears TO be the critical /
period; 1t is believed that when the ,
Constituent Assembly has finished its !
work and provided definite authority. !
the country will begin to pull itself ,
together and develop national feeling. |
which IL entirely lacking now.
Food Agitation in Bohemia
Reports from Munich through Zurich.
in Switzerland. declare there is much |
political agitation in Bohemia because
the people are insufiiciently fed. despite n
surplus in the harvest. Czech leaders
are asserting that this condition is due to |
the systematic mobilization OF the new
crop as fast as II is marketed for ship
ment to Germany, Large public meet
ings held in many places. especially in
towns have denounced this and
demanded the resignation of the Govern
ment for permitting II.
Throughout Austria-Hungary the new
crop is reaching the market very slowly
the farmers are holding it back for
higher prices and are supported by
large part OF the townspeople. who be-
lieve that the crops. II marketed now.
will go Immediately to Germany.