Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-11

Russia steps formally out OF the 7
war, by act Of the Bolsheviki govern |
ment which seized the reins OF power |
in Petrograd last November and al
most Immediately opened peace nego-
tiations with the central empires. The
authority of this government seems
virtually unquestioned at present in
northern Russia and the Teutontc
powers have already assured the ces-
satiOn of even nominal hostilities
along virtually all the remainder of
the original long line in the east by
signing peace with the Ukraine and
isolating Rumania.
Great Loss From War.
Although cutting little figure in the
war for nearly year past, Russia's
great, indeed vital, part in the con-
flict comes forcibly to mind as the.
circumstances leading up to her exit
are reviewed. Becoming a belligerent
on Aug. /, 1914, through Germany's
declaration of war upon her, her
troops were soon sweeping through
East Prussia, creating a diversion
which hampered the Germans in their
first dash through Belgium and upon
Paris. Though disastrously defeated
! by Hindenburg at Tannenberg she
/ quickly rallied and by winter was
hammering again at the German Dor
ders and her great armies, overrun-
! ming Austrian territory in Galicia,
were at the crests of the Carpathians
and threatening an invasion OF Hun
gary.
1t took the bulk of the Austrian
armies and large proportion OF Ger
many's virtually an entire years cam
paigning in 1915 to break Russia
hold on Galicia, drive her out OF Pc
lland and the lower Baltic territory
and force her armies under Grand
Duke Nicholas back to the line o.
which Brest-Litovsk, the scene OF tho
recent peace negotiations, formed the
keystone. Beaten back but not ye
. disorganized, she fought through 1916
creating havoc among the Austrian
armies in Volhynia and Galicia and II
, Asia Minor, driving the Turks out e.
, virtually all Turkish Armenia.
, The opening of last year, however
NJ
icratic regime, virtually at the end O
: her tether. Her oppressed, war worl
r people were ripe for the revolution
+ the latent flames of which Germal
= prcpagandists had skillfully famed
and in March, 1917. came the crash
the deposition of Emperor Nicholl
and the formation of the first provis
ionaI government. The corservati7
element among the revolutiOnists frs
held sway and the determination {
Russia to remain in the war was fire
/ auently affirmed Indeed, under ker
ensky as minister Of war, her armie
in July 1917, began an offensive
tVolhynia and Galicia which was in tn
full tide of success under Genera
l. Korniloff when the fatal disease
i disaffection among her troops, whic
i for some time had been NANTES
a broke out epidemically and stoppe
l. the effort dead.
= Still Held Fighting Fronts.
Since August last. Russia has fl;
J. ured in the great world conflict as
F. military factor only by reason tn
F. she still held numbers OF German al
d Austrian troops on her frontie
awaiting the forces Of disorganiz
F. ton within to bring about her fin
,e disintegratioE. This process, struggl
against in vain by Kerensky as PREF
ic Ter. through the summer and ear
" fall Of last year was constantly a
celebrated by virtue of the divided a
thority set up at Petrograd. T
= council Of soldiers and workmen, re
resenting the proletariat and claimi
virtually supreme power, system;
. icaliy antagonized the constituted &c
" eminent, clamoring for the opening
peace negotiations and finally in \
=. vember last. formally took over I
!, power it had long in fact exercised
eh Enter: Lenine and Trotxky.
The rest is comparatively recs
.st history. Under Lenine and Trotz
an arm:stiee was brought about on
es Russian fronts on Dec and pei
negotiations with the central pow,
were opened at Brest-Litovsk on u
at 90. The central empires agreed
adhere to the general principles OF
in annexations. no indemnities and 8,
determination of peoples. and tn
lwas held open to the entente pow