Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-01
Special Cable to Evening Public Ledger
Copyright, 1918, bv NeD York Times Co.
London Aug |.

Special Cable to Evening Public Ledger
Copyright, 1918, by NeU York Times Co.
London, Aug. l.
The veil which for a long time has
shrouded the near East is being gradu-
ally lifted, and what we have been
allowed to see is full of encourage
ment. The dramatic story of the
operations of the Czecho-Slovak forces
in Siberia and in southeast Eu'
ropean Russia, the appearance OF Al
lied troops on the Murman coast and
the resistance of the Armenians around
Baku, together with reports of the
steady decline in power of the Bolshe-
wiki and the troubles of Germans in
the Ukraine, al! show that the treaty
of Brest.Litovsk is likely before long
to be of no greater value than the
other treaties to which Germany has
put her name.
The news which we have received
affects areas so vast in extent ana
possessing such limited communica-
tions that we must not expect. even
though the Allies are ready and will
ing at last to - aid to the anti
Bolshevik forces. that the develop.
ments can be very rapid. The Muir.
man coast. which is at present the
only way into Russia from the west
open to the Allies, Is mainly or I'M
portapce to us because so long as we
hold II we can prevent the removal
of the munitions and supplies of all
kinds which the Allies had sent there
for the use of Russian armies ana
DENY its ice-free ports to enemy SUBJ
marines.
Finland Under German Influence
So long as German influence is para
mount in southern Ffpland, and 1t is
likely that II will remain paramount
until Germany has been defeated or Is
we'll on the way to defeat, Is no.
yery probable that anything we can
effect there will influence very mate
rally the situation in Russia proper,
nor considering the difficulties of the
| country. Is 1t likely that Germany VIII
expend much energy in TINS oirec-
| tion when once she finds we are ready
| to oppose her.
The Murman enterprise is In its
| essence a side show and should lot
| that reason engage a minimum oi
| force necessary. The main axis OF
German effort in the eastern theatres
~ war does not run northeast or east
,,,,t sortheast as It has from the be
oinninp of the war. 1t Is very i'm
nrohabIe that Germany entered the
war with any ideas OF territorial as
orc ndizenent in western Europe ne
,,ond nossibly such rectification OF the
Lranco- co-German frontier AS would give
ber nossession Of the Rriey minera.
Ne,ds It was to the East tnat size
looked for expansion.
! rure,xy was brought into the war 20
no used as a catspaw whicn woulu
swatch from us our position as IN.
snr,;nant power in the East and trans
Sa,. a. 70 Germany. The failure OF tne
Dardanelles expedition ana tne SUI
.n,,dar of Kut caused homes OF man y
a'.n,,ars In "drang mach osten te
"a the capture of rev thou
hngloJnNian troops ana p cor
SAT-. 80 mud novels on the lleris
ai,n;fiad with the name or a toWh vi WI
naIshrated throughout Germany W., w,
,ardI,, lees circumstance than was 'i''
news of Tannenberg'
Russian Collapse Opened "aS
/ our success in Mesopotamia and PA
,,ina having closed the direct roaos y
pars,an gulf and to the Suez Ianal
Sne Hnv has been forced to seek wa!
a',nd and the collapse OF Russia ma
ouad such a way to her. II was no
pa1,, 10 obtain corn that she entere'
.ma me- Iikraine and pressed on TO Odess'
Ssbastopol. She Is now trying U
ana an. ossession of the whole or the VaIie'
81 the Don. partly because II aiiora
% as;ast means of getting corn COW
,ha Black Sea, and thence py III
, Uannhs into Germany, but NANNY D.
: ., gives her a base from whlch
control the lower waters Oh the WIS