The Washington times., 1918-07-27
FOCH HOLDSREM
ONWAR CHARIOT
Il IN FOURTH YEAR

Won Kuhlmanu's evident retire
ment was q desperate expedient to
stem q decline In German morale due
to his speech Il T. apparent that as
the nth year OF warfare begins, the
German leaders are taking an In
creasingiy grave view OF the situation
facing them. They dare not promise
q dectsiVe victory to the Kaisefs de-
luded subjects any longer. The peo-
pie OF Germany are being prepared, in
fact, for the assumption Of q perra-
nently defensive role BY Won linden
burg. This, although the fourth year
OF CONFLICT has seen Won Hindenburg
display an unprecedented degree of
power In offensive warfare. neverthe-
less the year ends with an admission
by the German governmsat that by
these means peace cannot be won
In that fact IL the certainty Of ulti-
mats victory for democracy.
Dual Monarchy Sees TAlz.
Affairs In Austria-Hungary during
the past year have been highly unsatis-
factory TO the Germans. The people
OF the dual monarchy have shown no
gratitude for the German Sssistancs
which permitted the kustro-Hunga-
rians to recover their lost territory In
the IsonIo area and to drive the
Italians back to the Piaye. Since the
victory OF the central powers in italy,
AustFih-HungaFy has become increas-
ingty reluctant to continue the war.
Rioting has occurred sporadicaliy in
Vienna and many other cities, but as
yet nothing suggesting q direct revo-
lutionAry success has occurred
The Austro-HungariAns unQuestion-
ably have become the most war-weary
OF all the peoples in the conflict DUR
ing the past year. Hunger has
pinehed them with special severity,
largely because OF their lack Of ca
pacity for organization Fearful Of
q collapse in the HApsburg empire,
the German government has ap-
peased the hunger rioters by sending
them food from GermEny'B own
sealty store. This measure, how
ever, can only be temporary. When
Germany no longer 10 able 70 send
grain to Vienna, there will come an
intensihcation Of the strain that may
eompSl AuStria-Hungary to drop out
OF the war.
RasHia's Plight
Russia'E plight during the fourth
year Of the war has struck n middle
course between the two usual chan
nsls OF revolution There has been
no such series Of excuses that mark
ed the reign Of terror during the
French revolution, nor have events
followed the orderly precedent of
the English revolution Violence has
prevailed among the Russians, but
their principal handicap has not been
a tendency toward crime. II has
been a naive faith in formulas
coupled with = childlike lack of edu-
cation Nevertheless. the revolution,
however faulty, gives fairer hope for
the future of Russia than q con-
tinuation OF the reign OF the mental
ly incompetent Romanoffs.
Since the separate peace with the
Central Powers was signed by the
Bolsheviki, suggestions have been
Russia on the part of the allies
ed No scheme Of Intervention in
seemed feasible and without danger
to the cause OF democracy.
II dsmocraey's ideals are sound,
the Germans cannot crush them In
Russia The Russians are accepting
terrible sacrifices rather than per-
init q GermaniEed orgAniEat ton to
restore normal conditions Of living.
The older democracies OF the west
should remember the crudities of
their own revolutionary epochs, anu
should be patient with Russia Not
otherwise can freedom dominate the
world