Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-06-22
STORY OF GERMAN
INTRIGUE IS SET
FORTH BY SOCIETY

| WASHINGTON, d. c., June 22.--
How German intrigue began and grew
in Russia is strikingly set forth in a
bulletin issued by the National Geo.
graphic Society, based on commun
ication to the society from Stanley
Washburn, the war correspondent who
is at the present time connected with
the American commission to Russia,
headed by Elihu Root. The bulletin
says:
ITO understand the almost unsur-
mountable handicaps under which
the Russians have been laboring, it is
necessary to appreciate the nature and
Importance of the German influence in
Russia, which for the last few de-
cades has become such vital menace
tc the independence of the Russian
people.
After the Franco-Prussian War,
when the new economic and indus
trial era began to develop in the
Teuton Empire, it was but natural
that the Germans should look to Rus
STA for their most important market. At
first this outlet for their trade was a
luxury to their economic development,
but as, to a greater and greater ex-
tent, their trade became committed to
this vast territory it became more and
more of an economical necessity that
they retain and increase their grip on
Russia.
THE northern or Baltic provinces o.
Russia are very largely populated by
persons of German blood who have for
many generations been Russian sub
jects. 1t is natural that these nsaple,
in measure, should feel ana Under
stand German inspirations and aid and
abet in their plans where possible.
by this l do not mean to assert
that all Baltic Russians are pro+Ger-
man, for some of the ablest and most
loyal men and devoted troops have
come from this part of Russia; but it
il true that many of the worst infu-
enees have also been of Baltic prov
inee extraction. For ten years before
the war we can trace the German in
fluence through every specious chan
mel of intrigue and malevolent activ-
ity to gain ascendency in the internal
politics of the Russian Government
There is little reason to doubt thai
the German influence has aimed in
every way to check the growth of lib
eralism in Russia. There are many
who believe that but for the German
influence there would have come tht
abolition of vodka five years before
the war The elimination of thi:
curse would have meant education
and with education inevitably mus
have come the demand for more lib
eral government and ministry re-
sponsible to the Duma.
Alone the Germans could not have
hoped to exert this influence, but we
find in Russia another group, com
monty known as bureaucracy, who had
community of interests with the
Teutons. The bureaucracy represents
the office-holders and officials appoint
ed by the Throne, who have for gen
erations. and one might almost say
for centuries, preyed upon the re-
sources of the Russian Empire.
There has been during and before
the war a cooperation between these
two separate parties. the enduring
prestige of which depended on German
victory and Russian defeat. 1t is clear
that if Germany had been overwhelm-
ingly defeated, both the pro-German
ard the bureaucrats would have lost
the hold they had on the Russian En-
Pire.
1T is probably true that none OF
these dark forces had any great ap-
prehension at the beginning of the
war that Germany could lose; for, be-
ing well aware of Russia's unprepar-
edness, it seemed increditable that she
could triumph over her enemy-effie-
lent, and ready for the war"
and the transaction must be for cash.
@ T0IINCON Tiouidating Agent