New-York tribune., 1918-06-30

u plains OF fOlAnQ, tnTOuSn anu
spanning the fertile valley OF
the Danube and anchoring finally in
the ancient Businesses of Serbia and
Montenegro, extends mighty. chain.
Welded by suffering, oppressionsand
the indomitable fraternity of race, it
cuts In twain the dual monarchy of
pan Germany. In this chain of
Slavic nations which lies across Cen
tra1 Europe, in the very heart of the
enemy's country, is no crushed, shat
tered weapon for reforging, but a
two-edged sword which is ready and
waiting to be grasped and welded
to the confusion of the tyranny
which threatens the world.
These Slavic nations, Secretary
Lansing reiterated only Friday, are
to be made free before America will
consider the war won. This is the
story of their own efforts toward
winning that freedom.
Of the 1S0,0O0,0oo inhabitants of
pan-Germany s6,000,00o, or nearly
half, are anti-pan-Germanist slaves,
and SIS, 600, 900 of these latter inhabit
the enthralled territories of Central
Europe.
These figures and others are pre-
sented by Andre Cheradame, the cele-
brated French military critic, in
recent articles in "The Atlantic
Monthly" Referring to the recent
ly agitated insurrectionary move
ment among the Slavs of Central
Europe, M. Cheradame says:
"These regions form the most in
dispensable and, at the same time, the
most vulnerable strategic base of all
military pan-Germany. In fact, all
the rail and water lines of communi-
cation which connect Austria and
Germany with Russia, the Balkans
and Turkey traverse these regions.
Three and a half years of,war have
demonstrated that without the troops
and divers contributions of the Bal
kans and Turkey, to which are now
added those of Southern Russia,
Austria-Germany would long since
have been powerless to continue the
struggle. In reality, therefore, any
serious interference with the Austro-
German communications with the
East (Russia and the Balkans) will
be enough to make the situation very
difficult, both morally and materially
for the armies concentrated on the
Western front by the Berlin General
Staff-and this with remarkable
rapidity."
A Sleeping Sword
In Central Europe
It is justifiable, then, to say tina
the vital regions of pan-German,
are occupied by people who are some
thing more than passively anti-Ger
man, and who in the face of new an,
added cruelties, cut off from the res
of the civilized world and the possi
bilities of direct and immediate SUP
port and assistance, are ready an
willing to cast themselves into tn
lions mouth, if by SO doing they ma
insure the freedom of Easter,
Europe and, indeed, Of the entir
world.
Uprisings and rebellions hav
risen for centuries and been crushe
with efficient" promptness by tn
German and Austrian governments
swift chastisement has descended up
on the first patriotic head to rails
itself above the restrictions impose
with such care and forethought tina
the would-be patriot was dashed q
the outset by the apparent futility o
open rebellion.
But these uprisings, in which grea
national heroes have starred an
fallen, have now assumed the dignit
Of organized insurrection. The grea
nations Of the world, leagued to con
hat the enemy Of civilization, recoa
nize that in the midst Of torture an
devastation the Slavic countries n