The Washington times., 1918-07-29
RUSSIA STAGGEPS
NDERBURDENOF
BOLSHEVIK RULE

ny JOSEPH vEKsLER sHAPLEN.
(copyright. Is1s, by United Press.l
STOCKHOLM. July '2o.-AlthouEh
the fourth year OF the war was mark
ed by the complete disorganizafiou
OF Russia. both militarily and politI-
cally. the country was really out OF
the war In 1914 when more than Z
million soldiers deserted rom the
army. Only the czarist censorship
prevepted the truth from becoming
known to the world at that time.
The tremendous shaking up Of the
already disorganized national fabric
caused by the revolution. IN addition
to the many complications both IN,
ternal and external from which the
revolution found itself unable to IS
cape-when peace was most needed IN
order to solve these hume -ous prom
lens and repair the terrible conse-
quence Of war-opened the road u
Bolshevisuh and threw Russia into the
clutches OF German imperialism,
whose seal was finally set with TIA
Brest-Lltovsk treaty.
So far as military operations IN tha
year 1917-1S are concerned. there were
hardly any worth the name with the
exception of Kornilofss drive coward
Halicz, which really belongs to tha
end OF the third year OF the war. Thia
offensive. which was carried out
largely on account OF pressure
brought to bear by the allied repre-
sentatives in Petrograd. was at drsi
most successful. The Russians cap
tured Kalush and had ADVANCED a.
far as the suburbs Of Halicz Then
they were hurled back by German
te-enforcements, who not only r.
captured Tarnopol but thhe entire trt
angle OF Volynian fortresses-Roy-
no. Dubno. and LutsI<.
Boost For BOIshevisn.
The disoEganization OF the Russian
army now appeared complete. The
failure OF the offensive provea to Be
a great boost for Bolshevism. and
Korniloffs subsequent advance until
Petrograd served to pour oil on ths
Bolshevtst flames. Shortly befors
the latter circumstances, Riga had been
taken. and KorniloR had been accused
OF deliberately surrendering It in or.
der to arouse anti-Bolshevik resent
shevfk propaganda These events
plus the German attacks under Linsin-
gen prior to Korniloffs drive for
Halicz and which the Russians with
considerable losses parried. finished
their military operations for 1917,
AS for naval operations. the Ger
mans, utilizing Riga as q base. landed
t-oo1s and occupied Oesel. Noon, and
Dabgo Islands. At first they succeed
ea Al botIiing up the Russian feet
but the latter by q really clever
maneuver managed to escape from the
perilous Noon Sound
The and 0f 1917 fhA krfrTrnnh
of the Bolsheviki and the separate
peace with the central powers. with
all its disastrous consequences. Rus
sia lost Poland. Lithuania, the Baltic
provinces, Ukraine, Bessarabia, Fin
land. and part OF the Caucasus. And
the losses in the last named are likely
to increase in view Of the general
DISCRIMINATION in that quarter. the
dissolution of the regional govern
ment opening the road to Turkish ag-
gressions.
Big Loss of Territory.
The appalling character OF these
losses is evident when II is considered
that they comprise T07 900 square
versts Ia verst Is sc of a mile) OF
territory with a population OF 46.O0o.-
Russian republic is slightly less than
are the most fertile and most pcpu-
lous of the entire country.
The lost territory had a total brDad
and potato production, conservatively
estimated of 2.S96.OO0, 900 puds. a
pud or pood Is 36.07 pounds.) In othsr
words. the arabic area Is reduced 81
per cent, and crops lessened 81 per
cent
In railways the losses represent
IL 500 versts, out Of a total Of $4,000.
or about one-fourth. This loss is
even more serious than the mileage
figures Indicate. inasmuch as the sur
rendered territory includes many OF
most important railway juno
tions.
Prior to the war Russia's total an
nual production in manufactures was
2, 500, 100000 rubles Ia ruble equals
51.5 cents), the number of workmen
employed was 2.0T5.0O0. and the num-
Der of machines IN use was .457. COO.
'he reductions now represent 925,-
boo. 900 rubles. $4,000 workmen, and
575, 900 machines. or respectively 80
per cent, 20 per cent. and 80 per cent.
In coal and iron output. the basis
OF all industry in Russia, the reduc
tion Is even more startling Before
the war Russia produced annually
4.uVV.uUurOUU puuS OF coal anu -bVsUVV-
900 puds OF iron. Present Russia can
produce only SOC. O00. 900 puds OF coal
and 100000 puds of iron.
wipes Out Development.
These figures mean that Russia's
Industrial development of the past
twenty years is practically wiped out
Is a result Of the fourth year Of the
sabotage of the Russian
peace program and the policy Of the
The big question now is whether
Russia can withstand such blood-let-
ing. In opposing the forces of i'm
Derialism she faces her severest bat
lie for political and economic indie
oendence. Only the speediest re- I
OF the nations physical
Ind human material can prevent Rus
'ia's falling into the status of China
Or Turkey.
The task is too big for the Bolshe-
7iki. Only the. united efforts of the
whole democracy Of the country by
means OF a real constituent assembly
,an save her.
= The fourth year of the war saw
Russia's great revolution and Rus
iia's great fall.
Will the fifth year be the year OF
Ter awakening?