New-York tribune., 1918-02-12
Lenine Trotzky Faction
Hail 1t as a Bold
Stroke
Foes Call 1t Madness
Bolsheviki Declare That 1t
May Lead German Workers
to Rise

News of rehabilitation in Russia
brought Kisses and cheers from Rus
slams in New York. Local Bolshcviki
hailed the move as a bold stroke by
the Lenine-T Trotzky forces to show
their contempt for German militarism.
1t is the leaven, they contend. which
may cause German workers to rise
against their masters.
Their more conservative country
men call the Lenine-T -Trotzky move
madness. But all the factions agree
that the reports may not be authentic.
The two recent Russian conventions
have made New York the clearing
house for all shades Of Slav opinion.
A colossal gesture OF disdain toward
all war lords-that was the interpre-
tation of the Bolshevik Bureau of In
formation
AS to the effect this latest action
VII have on the general cause of the
Allies very little interest appeared to
be manifested.
"rhe only thing that interests u.s."
said Israel Blankstein, who, in the abb
sencc OF Louis Fraina, head Of the bu-
reau, acted as spokesman, dis revolu-
tlon; and this new move, assuming
that the report is really accurate. is
decidedly move in furtherancc Of
revolution.
Far from being surrender to the
Junker leaders Of Germany, it is an
absolute 1outing of them. Because, you
VIII notice that, although this report
says that a state Of war is ended. it
does not even rumor the signing of
any peace pact. That is vastly i'm
portant point
Ihc German imperialists made GER
tain outrageous claims. These claims
Irotzky, on behalf of the Bolshevik
government, rejected. Then the anti
Bolshevlk bourgeois element in the
ukraine attempted to conclude a sepa-
rate peace. This the Bolsheviki did not
countenance. On the strength of it.,
though Germany came forward with
new preposterous terms.
Signed No Peace Pact
$50 now Trotzky says to the war
lords: Away with you; we cannot
treat with you longer; we cannot have
anything to do with you whatsoever
And he calls off negotiations and troops
at the same time, but he signs no peace
pact.
when the Bolshevik government
wants to fight" he continued, "it will
not be that army in the trenches which
is now being demobilized that do the
ilghtlng; 1t will be the Red Guard
Announcement of an official demobili-
zation Is simply in line with the whole
Bolshevik policy of calling a spade a
sapde AS matter of fact, that army has
peen demo6llizing for months. 1t was
being demobilized in part under Keren-
sky. 1t had to be demobilized. There was
no way of getting food to it properly
even if there had been food to send
1t is still very difficult to feed it while
1T remains in the trenches. Call the
present demobilization a measure Of
economy, if you will. That is prac
tlcally what it comes to-"
Mr. Blankstein refused to believe that
this sudden recall of troops could have
any connection with threatened popu-
lar uprisings against the Bolsheyik rule
at home.
"The Lenine-T -Trotzky regime is Sc
cure" he asserted. ut is playing for
revolution, first of all for a rcvolu-
tion in Germany.
Toretold German Strike
Editor Radeck, of the 'Pravda,' the
Bolshevik organ at Petrograd, publish
ed an authorized article late last De
cember which holds the clew to the
present situation. In it he foretold the
recent general strike in Germany. But
he also declared that the strike would
not be sful-that it would be put
down precisely as it has been.
But he said, it will pave the way;
it will lay the ground. In March the
food situation in Germany is bound to
reach an acute crisis. Then is the time
when Socialist leaders in Germany look
for the real revolution. Will it sue
ceed? We cal..ot say just yet. We
can only wait, but we can wait secure
IN the knowledge that there is definite
plan
That is the plan" added Mr.. Blank
stein, Sin accord with which Trotzky is
shaping his course, always, of course,
assuming that this report is true. The
Junkers reject his terms Very well,'
says he, go ahead and fight us if you
want to- He knows quite we'll that the
German troops on the Eastern front
after the long months of fraternza-