Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-16

Ought 10 Help Czcchs
I suggested to the general that the
Allies were supposed to be united on
policies here. He replied:
England, France and Italy agree as
TO what steps should be taken, but un-
fortunately the Allies are now solid. But
the fact remains that we ought 10 help
the Czechs. We ought to do Il. too. for
humanitarian reasons l wonder IL the
humanitarlans of all countries under
stand what Il means for the Czechs TO
evacuate city like Samara / wonder
II they realize that 1t means that every
decent citizen will get his throat cut as
soon as the Czechs leave.
''1f we want TO help them they will
all be with us. Although the people
have not been taught self-sacrifice, they
are capable of great enthusiasm. II we
let them down after promising help we
shall be doing an awful thing"
Walking TO n map of Russia hanging
on the wall of his office over the Vladi-
vostok depot. the general pointed to a
lire marking what there is Of the Rus
stan front II begins in advance Of
Ekaterinburg thence runs to Samara,
thence south to Orenburg, along the
Orenburg-Tashkent railroad.
This does not mean that there arc
lines of trenches, only that the cities
and towns along this line are held by
friendly troops.
Reports OF general movement OF
Bolshevist and German prisoner troops
toward Samara junction are confirmed.
In the evacuation Of the town the enemy
object was to push the Czechs and Rus
SLAMS out of control of the Oreeburg
Tashkent railroad to get Turkestans
cotton.
BECAUSE of the very limited wireless
and cable communication between here
and America and Europe. officers ara
unable to follow detailed Developments
in the Balkans and Berlin. General
Knox, speaking of the reported armis-
tice was emphatic:
''Peace with Germany now would turn
Russia entirely over to Germany, per-
hans preventing the Allies forever from
making Roadway in this country
yIadivostok. oct. Q (Delayed)
II Is because Nladivostol1 Is the en-
trance to Germany's baclIdoor, which is
Russia that the Central Powers re-
ported request for an armistice affects
the situation here kcenly Knowing
what is happening in the interior or
Russia through the German BolsheNS x
combination knowing that the Czechs
have evacuated the Samara hridgehead,
proper, learning from travellers who
succeeded In crossing the country that
German propagand SITS have made all
Russians believe that Germany occupies
Paris and has invaded England, one
sees through Germans baclidoor the
reasons for the requested armstice In
the west
Germany is more anxious than ever
to make peace now with the western
powers She could even afford to prom
ise to evacuate Russia, knowing all the
time that with her present organiza-
tion here II would be years. If not de-
cades, before. the Allies or the Russians
themselves could interfere with her Rus
sian booty.
Army OF 100000 Teutons
Showing how Germany is using the
present to strengthen her position in
Russia, the Czechs have reliable reports
that 200 900 German prisoners, Bolshe-
Wiki have been organized, trained, and
equipped to attack the Volga front.
Samara, an important railroad junction.
the nearest Czech post to Moscow, was
lost because the CZechs were unable TO
obtain the Allies assistance. The Al
lied commanders here received pathetic
appeals from Czech headquarters asking
n maximum of hundred Americans.
at what is called the front along the
Volga The French and British were
able to send only the smallest forces.
but they arrived too late to save Sa-
mara The Americans were unable 10
comply with the Czechs request.
In connection with the military situa-
tion on the Volga and Allied-American
policy, there are two things which a
new arrival encounters Immediately.
tn1ly yn1 urfth Arnprinpne
French, Russians and Czechs. Among
only a limited circle is there a belief
that an effective Russian front can be
reconstructed. Second. while the AL
lies are united in principle as to poll
cies here, they are not united as to
method or means,
These two points are very strong to
an American arriving from the United
States, where many believe that with
the nucleus here it is only n question
of short time. possibly until spring,
when the Russian front against Ger
many might be reconstructed, Those
who believe this do not understand the
tremendous handicaps here, while Others
who know the situation believe that
America, with unlimited resources
could bear the chief burden and succeed
Without attempting to Judge after sc
short time here, can report diversi'
W Oh opinions, DIX months ago tHeTt
was opportunity TO establish some kind
Of effective front. IT was believed to be
necessary in order TO compel the Ger.
mans to weaken the western front. To-
day, with the collapse of Bulgaria and
1.-THE Allied advance In France. the Cen
trail Powers request an armistice. Mill
tary men don't believe 1t is necessar!
to re-establish a fighting front.
Politically, they believe the Allies
should intervene for moral and politlcs
reasons. but whenever the question o
Intervention Is discussed. all realize tn
handicaps, including the frightful rail
road service, the poor telegraph com
munication, the lack of supplies, mel
and equipment, the most importan
being the fact that the Allies canno
seize or operate the railroads o
telegraph without interfering with Rus
sian internal affairs
There is not only one central gov
ernment. but there are hundreds of loca
governments working jealously. In