Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-27
GERMANS PREPARING
To DELIVER CRUSHING.
BLOW At PETROGRAD.
Concentration of Troops on
Riga-DvinSk Front Fore
casts Great Drive at the
Capital of Russia
By Associated Press.N

LONDON, March 26.-Special dis
patches from PetFograd dated Friday
emphasize the seriousness of the stu.
alton arising from the German concen-
trauon on the Riga-Dvinsk front with
the apparently certain intention of at
tempting TO break through to Petro-
grad.
IL is argued that The shortening OF
the German front in France is part of
a plan to overwhelm Russia by sud
den and tremendous blow before the
country can recover from the unsettling
effects of the revolution.
According TO the accounts of these
correspondents. internal conditions in
Russia, Notwithstanding the determina-
ton of the government and responsible
leaders to conduct the war with ener-
gy, are disquieting. They say that time
is needed 10 restore the discipline of
the army and navy after the recent up
heaval and they record incidents which
are hindering progress in this direction.
Among these is the movement of ex-
tremists TO put the final overthrow OF
the Romanoffs. the bureaucrats and rul-
ing classes generally in the forefront of
all national effort.
This movement is indicated by the ap-
pearance in the Socialist newspaper
Pravada of a resolution of the Social
Democratic party's central committee
inviting the soldiers 10 leave the
trenches and go over to the Germans.
II is asserted that this step would i'm
mediately evoke a fraternal response
among the Germans and the war would
promptly collapse. enabling the army
and people TO cooperate in overthrow
ing the ruling classes of Russia.
Some soldiers in Petrograd are said
to have spent days wrangling over the
wonderful promises held forth by the
Socialist propaganda and to have
stopped thinking about the war. which
they believe to be. over.
Abiding to the military situation in
Russia and the effect of the revolution
on the men at the front, Reuters Petro-
grad correspondent says:
War Minister Gutchkoffs statement
that the foe is at the gate is no mere
figure of speech. The slightest relaxa-
ton of vigilance and the enemy would
be at Petrograd."
The correspondent then cautiously re-
fers to the repercussive action on the
troops of the consciousness that the
army has been the arbiter of Russia's
destiny. which has manifested itself in
demands incompatible with military dis
cipline and says that already there is
news from various fronts of the pre-
valence of second thoughts"
But" continues the correspondent,
where the men respect their chiefs,
and the army is fortunate i'm its COM
manders. il is unlikely that persistence
in Untutored claims will be allowed to
prejudice the spring and summer cam
paigns- Moreover, reassuring reports
have been received from General RUIZ
sky and General Judenich, who COM
mand the Caucasian army.
There has been much head shaking,
nevertheless. among the more timorous
inhabitants of PetrOgrad, largely a re-
Election of the greater freedom allowed
the press, which has opened the flood
gates to the pacifists and shriekings
against war loans"
The correspondent concludes by de-
claring the republican form of govern
ment now is assured