The Washington herald., 1918-07-13
The Back-Fres.

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The Macedonian front is active again. The
Advance of the French and Italians in Albania
probably dictated BY the political friction be-
tween Turkey and Bulgaria about which Berlin
has shown little anxiety. Entente successes
~ this sector may have far-resching effect in the
Balkans.
II the Austrian collapse along the Piave can
be buttressed by sharp reyerses of the Teutonic
forces the Monastir-Berat 'front.' the results will
be interesting. Any weakening of German prestige
IN Stamboul or Sofa is dangerous for the Kaiser
now. The Bulgar and the Ottoman have been
ipduiging m a row over the Dobrudja and other
slices OF booty in the past few months Berlin
has fnowned and clustered, but has not intimdated
either OF the qu2rrelmakers Bahama is the deadli
est political quicksand of which history has any
record 1t would not be surprising if the cockpit
OF Europe. in which the war was incubated, should
be the scene OF the big smash-up of the CEN
tral powers. A fare-up at Germany's back door
would send the wine of revolt coursng through
the veins of the various disafected races held
under Hspsburg rule and make breakdown in
Austris-HungaTy practically an accomplished fact
The offensive in Albania has not progressed
far enough TO warrant such extravagant hopes,
however. The initial successes brilliant, and
If real driving force is behind them the whole
Biunder upon biunder has been piled so in the
allied handling of the Balkan question; if they
cSn be retrieved now through a coup de grace of
French and Italian arms, the past can be for
gotten-and forgiven.
There are other flank attacks upon the Hun
pending. The germ of reaction against Bolshevism
is developing fast among the North Russian peo-
pies, and the small guard of British, French and
American soldiers at Kola, near Archangel, are
pioneering what may prove to be great counter
Evolutionary movement. Whether a strong allied
force is to be concentrated here preliminary to
drive into Russia to combat the Teutonic advance,
is being debated in entente military circles with
gIes7 intensity. There is denying the diff
eufties- The project is far more practicable how
ever, than that of trying to strike at Germany
by a trans-Siberian expedition. There are certain
reasons why Japanese force thrown into Siberia
could render effective aid to the allied cause but
It is highly doubtful whether it would ever Interfere
With German projects in European Russia. The
opinion is growing that this whole grandiose
Siberian project is military we'll as political
and chronological impossibity. 1t is hard to see
why this fact was not apparent from the first.
There is still another back-hre to be considered
Certain strategists in London insisting that
the Turkish penetration of the Caucasus must be
resisted The extinction of the Armenian race,
now approaching accomplished fact, is being
IolloWed oy Occupation anu IootlnS OF some OF the
rich Southern Russian provinces by Turkish troops.
If this movement be not checked, Germany, through
its command of Persia and the entire Caspian
region, soon will be forging dagger TO aim at
India. For months the British-Mesopotamian cam
paign has been inactive. 1t would not be surpris-
ing Il it is being heavily REINFORCED this moment
to advance against the Turks. The capture of
Bagdad should yield larger fruit than it has to date
All OF these flank movements important as
they are, do not alter the postulate that the war
is to be won to be lost in the West. We doubt
if Germany be brought to bay before her
armies IN France humbled. This day of grace
is-brought appreciably nearer by the storms brew
ing behind her back. IA; .