The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-25

Amsterdam. Jan. z&.---A sensation
al Petrograd dispatch today report
ing an open revolution in Austria ana
the setting up Of provisional gov
eminent, proved wholly unfounded
later In the lay. Tonight II was Een-
orally viewed as a hoax engineered
their fast dwindling power, on by the
Austro-German rulers for the pur-
pose OF fetgning internal collapse on
the eve of maximum military foe.
On the surface all still serene In
the Danube empire. The imperial
and royal government remains for
The present In arm control Under
the surface the nationwide unrest
seethes on Dispatches agree ii may
explode any moment The explosion,
however. when Ii comes. will not be
swift overthrow of ~, emperor
kings government and the substitu~
ton of provisional regime. 1t will
merely mark the opening of long.
bloody civil warfare. with the bulk
of tho army and police pitched
against the revolving masses
Such, at least. was the view %
those who know Austrian conditions
best
What happened during the last
twenty-four hours in the great drama
In which Austria, Russia and Ger
many play the leading roles. In thias
What q Is Going On.
In the very moment Austria
through the Polshsviki had gained
tho whip hand over Germany tho
power of the Russian radicals took a
steep tumble. Germany's espionage
system In Russia saved her from sur
render to her chief ally Just when
the latter doomed large as prospec-
tive dictator and Farbiter In the CEN
trail alliance
The wires from Vienna TO Berlin
were still huzzing with sharp de-
mands from Count Won Czernin for
breakdown by the German annexA-
tionists and with "admonitions'' from
En- peror Charles that Belgium must
be restored, when the direct teis~
sra phi from Petrograd informed VIII
heirnstrasse that Russia was fast
losing faith I'm the Bolshevikf, that
the counter revolutionary movement
YVES growing hourly.
Well aware that with Bcishevik~
lam fall Austria's chance OF forcing
n moderate peace. Berlin proceeded
TO speed the Lenine regimes decline
Every pretense OF on-annexaticn
Uk0iiAPtAS d1oppNu Wy Inc 6Wk
man delegates at Brest -I4itovsk and
the threat of the sword was uttered
in place OF oily phrases of lust and
honorable peace"
Russia Given Uitsmnsum.
Russia was told that the time for
quihbling is passed. that no further
requirements will be snfr sred and
to make up her mind whether she
viii make peace that will leave thu
Baltic provinces outside her new from
tiers. IL not. IL was added. tire Bal
tic port of Reval will be occupied BY
the Germans within a week.
Thus. In the moment when her chief
ally threatened to use her weakness
and the weakness OF Russia--Boishs-
vism--as- a weapon to force non-an-
nexationist peace. Germany resorted to
the doctrine of the iron fist" TO Inns
PRESS both upon her ally and on Rus
STA the fact that as far as sne. Ger
many. IL concerned. might Ia still right
and win be employed accordingly.
In this procedure Berlin ts playing
the Ukraine against Russian proper.
Must Resort to Promises.
As matters now stand the AnstriaM
rulers are reduced once more to their
own resources. confined to promises.
In guieting the masses ciamorin9 for
bread and peace while the 8olshevtkt
hard-presSed by the counter revolt N
which Kerensky and Savinkon are the
leading spirits. face an ail-Russtan as-
semh1y which win ask an accounting
Of them rs to why the promise TO bring
peace has not been redeemed.
Meanwhile the Austrian unrest -
however. steadily spreading tm 0sr-
many. giving the German ScctAlisfp
and radical leaders new courage n q
demand rGnunciatton Of conQussG
-Ibon't play with are u Tho WnSae
ing FhAip scbsidsmAnu. Socl431e< n1ssi