Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-02-13
Military Experts Think Release
of Million and Half Teuton
Prisoners in Russia Not
DiScouraging,
DOUBT PROVISIONS
WILL MEET DEMAND
Diplomatic Observers Say In
conclusive Peace More of a
Problem to Germany Than
Actual Warfare.

lay nesH'As IousaAL spseAl LKAsxA grssl
! Washington. Feb. l2,.-4With tia
opening of the great campaign OF
! 1918 on the western front apparent-
| Is within sight, military men here
! examined today with profound inter-
est the situation created by the sign
ing of peace pact between the cen-
tial powers and the new Ukraine ce-
! public and the decision of the Boil
shevik Russian government TO de-
mobilize the army. Their conclusions
we're not discouraging. These events
on their face would appear to set tree
enormous ground forces for the Ina
pending battle in the west and aiss
! to furnish new sources of food supply
for the Teutonic allies, but many
| factors detract from the advantages
the central powers may derive.
Prisoners Mostly AustIfans
One of the threats against the
western front dwelt upon in pubiis
discussion is the fact that presuuIa.
bly, 100000 prisoners of war held ia
Russia would be released TO strength
on the German army. Tho fact "a
said to be, however, that the great
majority of the soldiers captured hy
the Russians are Austrians, ust
available for western front opsrations
by present Indications Most OF lha
others are civilians or camp followers
OF one kind or another and 50 far az
known. only small number oS Ger
man troops were captured on that
front. Any men from the pttsnh
camp are regarded as OF doubtful
military value for some time to come.
as the Russians. unable to feed th1sr
own soldiers, hardly have improved
the health of the captives
Supplies arc Questioned.
There is doubt here, also. as 10 ths
extent to which the agricultural re.
sources OF the Ukraine or of Russia
can be brought To the aid of the Ger
man people in the near future Fail.
ure of the Russian transportation
system worked in Germanys inter
est in undermining the fighting pow
er OF the Russian armies. The same
agency, now necessarily, worries
against the central powers in its de-
Sire to get out food supplies. More
over, the best wheat regions which
may be opened to the Germans are
In a remote section of the UftrainS
and In such poor condition that the
agricultural system may have to Ss
made over, difficult process with
the confusion that prevails Though
out the region.
DIPLOMATS Confident.
Demobilization of the Russian
army will not mean that the Austrs-
German-B Bulgaria forces on the
frontiers can be wholly withdrava.
There will be a constant threat st
renewed hostilities and the Germans
must see to II. that ample force is al
ways at hand.
In fact, diplomatic observers say
aermany Is confronted with the mos:
difficulf and unprecedented problrta
she mas met during the present war
as result of the declaration that
Russia has abandoned hostilities
without the signing of a peace treaty.
The refusal of the Russians to stsn
any treaties alternating the Russian
western provinces, the diplomats
point out. will leave the central pow
ers without any legal claim TO their
possession. Germany and Austrian
tenure will rest entirely upon the as
sertion of force, without receKnftioa
OF international law and consequent
~ must be subject to the decision Of
Whatever form of tribunal finally de-
termines the basis OF general peace.
Should Germany and Austria re-
solve to recognize the Bolshevik de-
cree as terminating the war without
the conformation Of that action w
treaty in the usual form. their
armies would be in the position Of
Killing an unresistins and unarmea
people proceeding regarded here as
certain to cause trouble for the Tel-
tonic governments with their psoNls y
at home. An appeal from the hus-
rian peasants to the working Glasses
OF Germany and Austria, II IL NA-
iieved here. would not fall OF sym-
pathetic response embarrassing to
the military. parties.
The United States never has recss- s
nized the Bolsheviki regime. and Rus
sia's Abandonment Of the war will net
alter existing relations. This was
made clear at the state department
today. where II also was stated that
the formal signing OF peace treaty
by the new government Of the Ukraine
could have no diplomatic effect so tar
as this government Is concerned. This
first official intimatioh that peace
had been signed was received today
from Minister vopicka. at Jassy, Ru-
Retain Consular Agents.