The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-27

BY wise generalship, the Italian line
was withdrawn from the 1sonZo. 1t
paused at the Tagliamento and then
retired further until it rested on the
Piave, almost within sight Of the
domes of Venice. Here the Italian
army reformed it's columns, consolidat-
ed its positions by withdrawing from
the Rhaetian mountains to the Asiago
plateau and, assisted by the French
reinforcements brought to that battle
front, stood at bay
Russian Collapse.
Events in the meanwhile had been
moving swiftly in Russia. On Novem-
Der /, while the offensive against Italy
was under way, Alexander r. Keren-
sky, then the Russian premier. an
noUnced that Russia was worn out by
the war and that the allies must Shout
der the burden thenceforward.
Seven days later Kerensky was de-
posed by the Bolsheviki. The fall and
fight of Kerensky was the signal for
Germany and Austria to enter into
November 80, the Bolsheviki an
nounced that Russia was out of the
war and proposed that all Of the Allies
join in negotiations for an armistice
Russian and German representatives
met at Brest Litovsk on December %,
and terms of peace were exchanged
No progress was made with the nego-
tiations, and the conference was brok.
en- up on January II. In the meantime
new republic had sprung from the
side of Russia. 1t was Ukraine, a ter
ritory extending along the Rumanian
and Galician frontier from the Black
Sea northward. to Cholm, in ancient
Poland. With this republic, the Cen
trail empires made peace late in jan
uary.
The failure of the Bolsheviki author
tiles to reach any agreement with
Germans resulted in the renewal of
hostilities on February IS, and the
German armies moved forward once
more.
Brest-Litovsk Treaty.
This brought about a renewal of
the peace negotiations, and at Brest-
Litovsk the Bolsheviki were given to
understand that Germany would recog-
n1ze the kingdom of Poland, the re-
public of Ukraine, the independence of
Finland, and the separate govern
mental status of Lithuania, Esthonia
and Llvonia. Turkey, as an ally of the
Central Powers, was given a great
area to the east of the Black sea, in
Guiding the regions of Batum, Kars
and Erdvan
with the announcement of the final
signing of the treaty between the
Bolsheviki and Germany, the Allies
gave up hope that Russia would re-
main in the conflict, and at once they
began to strengthen their lines against
the coming of the great German often
sive by which Berlin and Vienna hoped
to force the entente nations to make
peace.
Rumania CapituIates.
With the greater part of her terri
tory occupied by the Germans, Austri-
ans and Bulgarians, with her govern
ment driven from Bucharest to Jassy
and with the Russian Bolsheviki open
~ hostile toward her. Rumania found
herself in critical situation. Ru-
manian troops during February and
March advanced into Bessara bia, a
part OF the new Republic of Ukraine,
but they were hemmed in by the en-.
envy forces and obliged to withdraw.
AT last, on May 6, Rumania signed
treaty Of peace with the Central Pow.
ers. BY this treaty Rumania lost the
province of Dobrudja, on the south
side Of the Danube, which she had re-
ceived after the Balkan war. and
agreed to rectifcation of her western
frontier Economic concessions also
were made under pressure from the
Teutonic Alliance.
Peace Tentatives.
Tho nnrinI hot
1917, and March l, 1918, may be called
lhe period OF peace tentatives. It is
true that before the end of the sum.
mer POPE Benedict made an appeal to
the warning nations to enter into
peace negotiations, the basis for pour
parlors being the restoration of Bel
GUM and Serbia and the return to
Germany of her lost colonies This
made on August IS, was ans
wered by President Wilson on August
~ when the president announced that
the German government as constituted
could not be believed and that the
United States was ready to enter into
negotiations when the German people
showed they desired peace and when
they spoke through any authority
which would be representative of
them.
The German answer to the Pope's
appeal reached the Vatican on Septem-
Der Il. 1t expressed hope that further
warfare could be averted through the
good OFFICES Of the Pope, but declined
10 enter into any engagement to meet
what the Allies had declared to be
their minimum war aims.
German Peace Offer.
German efforts to secure peace
which would leave to Germany all the
fruits of her victory gained through
tussla's collapse, and with Belgium. |
and large portions Of France to be |
lsed as pawns at the council table. |
began with the address of Count !
CZernin. then Austrian foreign minis
er. at Brest-Litovsk, on December 26.
[he Keynote Of the address was gen
sral peace without annexations and
ndemnities.
On January s, President Wilson. ad.
lresslng Congress, said that the Unit
"a States must know for whom the
German rulers were speaking. The
lddress was complement to an ad-
lress made on January by David
LLOYD george, the British Premier.
To these addresses reply was made
" Imperial Chancellor Won Hertling
II Germany, and Count Czernin. The