Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-02-20
Letter From One Who Wrote
Before Peace ParIeyS Began
Says Light Has Gone Out
Of Everything,
HIGH COMMANDERS
ARE CAUSE, He SAYS
Cannot Understand Why Men
in Ranks Should Be Called
Traitors for Quitting Under
Circumstances,
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The Russian Bolshevk government
has capitulated and announced its
readiness, although protestingly to
sign a peace compact under the hard
terms imposed by Germany.
Notwithstanding this fact, Teutonic
troops are advancing eastward into
Russia over front of 400 miles, from
Riga in the north to Lutsk, scant
fifty miles from the east Galician
border, on the south. Apparently,
thus far, the operation has met with
no opposition. The northern reaches
of the Dvina river have been crossed
by the enemy; the important railroad
town Of Smolensk has been captured
and Lutsk, one of the famous fort
resscs of the Volhynian triangle and
forming the gateway leading eastward
to Kiev, has been entered without the
Russians attempting to stay the foe,
Signed Under Protest.
The official announcement of the
capitulation was signed by Nikolai
Lenine and Leon Trotzky on behalf of
the peoples commssaries of Russia.
1t protests against Germany attack
ing a country which has declared the
war at an end and which Is demobiliz-
ing its armies on all fronts, but under
the circumstances, II says, the govern
ment regards itself as forced formally
to declare its willingness "to sign
peace upon conditions which had been
dictated by the quadruple alliance at
Brest-Litovsk
The only indication that the enemy
will meet with hindrance comes in
an announcement by Ensign Kry-
lenko, Bolshevk commander-n-c -chief.
In his order he instructs the Russians,
when they encounter German troops,
to endeavor to persuade them to re-
frain from hostilities.
"If the Germans refuse" he adds.
then you must offer them every pos
sible resistance"
Intentions of Invaders.
AS yet there Is no indication from
German sources concerning the full
intentions of the invaders, but 1t has
been assumed that in the north the
capture of the provinces of Livonia
and Esthonia is contemplated and
that in the south, in Little Russia, aid
is to be lent the Ukranians in stem
ming the tide of the Bolshevik move
ment against them.
Apparently all still Is chaos in Rus
sia, with civil war in progress at vari-
Gus points and the food situation
daily growing worse. So serious has
become the latter factor that Trotzky
has been appointed food controller
and given unlimited powers. Already
he has ordered the arrest of specu-
lators in foodstuffs.
Both Armies Are Ready.
Behind the entente allies lines in
France and Belgium the leaders. with
their armies ready, are expecting the
Germans to launch their much talked
of offensive, but there still Is no out
ward sign of its near approach. Arr
tilIery duels and raiding operations
and intensive aerial activity continue
to feature the fighting all along the
front. Three successful raids against
the Germans have been carried out
by the British in Flanders and near
Lens and Arras in northern France.
In Flanders the raid. which was car
ried out south of the Houtholst wood,
resulted in the British penetrating the
German positions on a wide front, the
infliction of numerous casualties and
the taking of prisoners.
Activity I'm the Air
Sixteen attacking German airplanes
were accounted for Sunday in aerial
by German airmen, and in
German towns and military
positions behind the battle front were
heavily bombed. British naval air
men also paid visit to the German
naval and air bases at Zeebrugge,
which were effectively bombed, and
drove down three German machines
that attempted TO give battle. The
tense political situation in Great
Britain arising from the secrecy sur
the recent supreme war
council at Versailles and the retire.
ment OF General Robertson as chief
of the British imperial staff, has been
bridged Premier Lloyd George an
nounced to the house of commons that
ii had been decided to set UP GEN.
trail authority to coordinate the
strategy of the allies and = that the
plan submitted by the Americans,
which put the case for the present
proposal. was one of the ablest docu
ments ever submitted to military
conference. The plan was adopted
with minor changes.
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