The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-09

I Ukraine is the most important sup
ply house of Russia, and that Ger
many did not desire any further
peace at this time than with the
Ukraine, as that would give them the
supplies Of raw materials and foods
needed. 1t would save the face" of
the German delegates, and unless the
Bolshevil1i overthrow the independent
government, this separate peace
probably viii be consummated, for
the Ukraine has a very large Aus
trian and German population.
The UlIrainiansclaima ndtabla vic
tory over the Red Guards but that
signifies little more than the fact that
they were the last to reach a tele-
graph wire. Victories" in the Rus
sian civil war are won by the last
person sending the message.
Wires Are Cut.
Apparently the telegraph wires
from Brest- Litovsk have been cut,
for all the dispatches from there are
delayed several days, and evidently
so out by courier. No substantial
progress has been made, and it is
doubtful IL the Bolsheviki are eager
for progress. They seem to be de-
liberately sparring for time, with the
aim of continuing to negotiate, hop
ing the Bolshevik propaganda will
bring the hoped for uprising Of the
German proIetariat, and fearing to
return home without the promised
peace which is impossible on their
terms until Germany is much nearer
military defeat than she is now.
Finland is in the throes of bloody
revolution, with fierce fighting he
tween the Red Guards Of the Bolshe-
Wiki and the White Guards OF the
Finnish government.
The vicious class prejudices Of the
Bolsheyid are shown in their attitude
toward Finland. "Self-determinatio
Of peoples" Is permitted only when
that INSTRUMENTATION brings gov
eminent by the proletariat Finland
set up a real democracy, representa-
tive of all the people. The Bolshe-
vik government refused to recognize
its freedom, and sent the Red Guards
to subdue Finland and set up a Boil
shevik government. The Red Guards
control Helsingfors. but the govern
ment troops are active outside the
capital and fatty contradictory re-
ports Of the Aghting are received, |
both sides claiming victories.
The possibilities OF a holy war in
Russia have been discussed in these !
and no further develop
nents have been reported since then.
Sinking Of Tuseania.
The sinking of the Tuscanla was a
shock to Americans, but it was miti-
gated by the comparatively small
loss of life. Many have wondered
Why a transport heavily conveyed
should fan prey to a submarine and
Why so many lives should be lost
when the vessel remained ahoat two
hours.
1t seems most probable that the
transport simply stumbled on to a
waiting submarine, and came within
,asy torpedo range. The submarine,
With her delicate listening apparatus,
,aught the approach of the big con-
10Y submerged and lay in wait. The
Tuscania happened to offer the best
mark, and the torpedo went home.
rhe submarine probably never show
ID more than a few inches Of her
and in the darkness, this
would be invisible, more especially If
he vessel was not moving or showing
my wake.
The loss Of life was doubtless due
o the explosion itself, and the con-
usion OF trying to rescue the sur
.ivorB in the pitchy darkness.
Submarine losses for the week held
tationary. fifteen vessels being de- II
troyed. More and more it is being
Emphasized that the war Is develop
ng into race with the submarine.
nd ships are daily becoming the
most pressing need Of the Allies.