The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1917-03-23
THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR.
Probably in the history of the world
no more portentlous events have occurred
in 30 short time as during the last
week. We know not yet how much
these sudden changes mean, perhaps
this generation will not know it at all.
Russia. to the astonishment of the
world, within a few days forced the Gear
to abdlcate aad sthe government passed
into the hands of the Duma. which is a
representative. body elected by the peo
pie. Acc6rding TO reports this was done
without much bloodshed and the overc
turn has been accepted all over the em
pire without serious opposition, even the
army accepting the new authority with
out question.
The reason given for the assumption
of government by the Duma is that the
Gear was too weak and had allowed
German agencies, including bis German
wife to influence him in the issues of the
present war. tgde Duma declares that
the war against Germany will now be
carried on with renewed vigor.
While the intentions of the Duma
may be according to this statement, yet
it is evident that it will take some time
to adjust the army and its supplies to
the new conditions. Undoubtedly con-
ditions in Russia have been very bad
and graft and corruption have been the
common thing. 1t will take time and
much good management to change these
conditions which have been prevalent
for long series of years.
The condition of affairs in Russia calls
for a string leader. Some times such
leaders are developed by such conditions
with the general good results that follow.
Sometimes chaos follows the lack OF
leader.
The immediate effect on the war lines
will perhaps be some delay in the move.
ment for the expected "spring drive"
because of the new government and per-
haps new plans.
The second great event of the week is
the retirement of the Germans on front
of nearly 100 miles of which the Somme
district is the center. As we write on
Wednesday the retirement has not ap-
parently stopped, but military
authorities expect that the Germans will
soon face about on newly prepared lines
which in some places are at least twenty
miles from the abandoned line. During
this retirement while the English and
French. have been following as rapidly
as possible there has been hut little
fighting. Over thousand square miles
of territory has thus been relinquished
by the Germans and several scores of
villages have been destroyed by them as
they left.
The German sympathisers and papers
say that the retirement was voluntary
and done for strategic purposes and that
Won Hindenberg will finally gain more
than he has lost by this maneuvre.
Some neutral observers think that the
movement is made to checkmate the
proposed spring drive for which the
British and French had been preparing
all winter. These writer's claim that by
thus withdrawing that it leaves the en-
tente allies who follow il the open, with.
out intrenchments, while the Germans
CLAIM they are within stronger defences.
However, it is also clear that ii this
same ground had been won by the ex-
pected "spring drive" movement at a
cost Of large number Of lives that the
entente allies would have considered iti
. good bargain and . great victory.
The Germans clalm that BY the retire.
ment that they shorten their lines and |
thus free many soldiers to 90 to other
points il wanted. But while this is true
it is also trus Of their enemies and il
anything 70 the advantage Of the sur.
rounding forces because tho foeces out.
dds : circle Of wedge viii IS in longer
lins and literature havs more msn whom
the wede deo ~ VI.
Tho psgi gitioa - III b. Is. ii Sits atti.
tsde = Gernaay ~ NJ ohaaes,i ax.t