Evening journal., 1918-03-14
GERMAN TROOPS
OCCUPY ODESSA
Great Outlet icr All South.
ern Russia in Posses
sion of Enemy
RUMANIA IS
MADE TO AID FOE

BERLIN, via London, March H.
German troops have entered Odessa !
This oflcial announcement was made
last night.
LONDON. March 1.-THE occupation
by German troops Of Odessa, while ex
pected ultimately. comes at this time as
a surprise. for little has been heard
here in the last two or three weeks Of
the advance of the Germans ana Aus
trians in that region. The so-called
German peace with Russia and the as
surance that the seizure of territory in
the Baltic provinces and IN the south
since the signing of The peace treaty at
Brest-LitoVsk were merely technical
operations for the purpose Of aligning
the troops properly were never regard
ed here as honest.
Odessa which has a population Of
nearly 10000. is the most important
city i'm southern Russia and the great
seauort for The krainc by far the rich
est section of the former great Emrire
Of Russia. The marvellous natural rf
sources OF that huge country. undoubi
edly the greatest In the world, would
find their natural outlet in this port
not only from The Ukraine proper,
which lies altogether 90 the north. but
from the Caucasus a. We'll, wiin IT,
wonderful mineral wealth, including the
petroleum wells 81 Baku, The wonderful
platinum and gold mines n The Ural
Mountains on the north and the whole
western section ~ Siberia a belt about
2 900 miles wide
The preliminary peace treaty slgned
ny Bumania and the Central Powers on
March . contained O provision engaging
Ruman- io support with all ii, strength
fhe transport OF troops of tho Central
Powers through Nolda'ia and Bcssar
abba TO Odessa The purpose of ihe
central Powers In inserting This clause
hls not been made clear although tho
explanation was given that the primary
object was 40 insure the importation
nf supplies from the Ukraine. After the
4reafy was signed the semi-onlcial Ger
man news agency announced that Ger
iGany had acquired a direct route h1
,vav OF Russia 10 Persia and Afchanis-
i7n
That Germany will derive much im-
mediate benefit from The control of ihe
vast potential wealth of the territory
which feeds Odessa Is very doubtful
The country was badly disorgdnized
long before the revolution about n wear
ago. and II has become very much
worse since. The Ukraine. which is th'
-ranary Of Russia. usually has sur
plus n wheat, but this year there IS
barely enough for its own population
approximately IS 100000, and any craiI
ahipped out 10 Germany or AustrH
must reduce by that amount The foo'
actually needed by the Ukranians
should Germany's tenure continue 10
year. however, she undouhtedly vii
draw great supplies Of food tlrougl
The port of Odessa.
During the last fortnight the leadin
newspapers of Germany have repeat
edlv warned the German people partic
llrly in the last few days. that no grea
addition 10 the German food suppl
could be expected for the present no
enough to cause any material chang
10 the present food rati0ns on accoun
~ German control Of the Ukraine.
When the time comes however, II
does come, when Russia will bscin e
supply Gcrmany's food requirements
'hc means for Transporting these sup
niles viii have been perfected tn
basis for a great system OF transporta
ton is already there With her CON
nlete control Of the chief outlet Of th
Ukraine. the Dobrudia which is 'he en-
tire Blach sea froniage 0f Rumania. ir
cludinc the mouth of the DANUBE % am q
Bulearia and an ~ Turkey. includin
inatolia. which is ihe southern shor
If the Black Sea, and The Caucasus n
The east, Germany hardly could as
for more favorable conditions
The occupation OF Odessa. in col
junction with these other acquisition
makes the BLACK sea in effect a Germa
lake Not a foot Of ITS shores has O.
caped German control That German
will he permitted 10 retain this con
plcte and absolute control. acquired ei
iirely bv INTRIGUE and not by conducs
is unihiuFable 40 matter What O
pcacc terms may be the ACQUISITION
huge empire of incredible natur
wealth without o battle. without ev'
brisk strmish could mot ho tolerot'
10y 'he Allies Few outside OF German
believe that her tenure or control of
ihc countries surroundnc the Bla
Sea. tocelher with the virtual contr
II an means Of access and egress SUI
as tho Dardanolles and the railw
route through Rumania. will contin
Ions enough for her to reap ihe ben
flts Of the immense work which s.
must undertake ai once In order
make tho new supplies available ne
year. The chances are that she "
have time enough 90 make the nect
sary preparations. but not enough
get The benefit Of them