The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-31

ed at the Tagliamento and then re-
tired further until IL rested on the
Piave, almost within sight of the
domes of Venice. Here the Italian
army reformed its columns, consoli-
dated it's positions by withdrawing
from the Rhaetian mountains to the
Asiago plateau and, assisted by the
French achievements brought to
that battlefront, stood at bay.
Russian Collapse.
Events In the IN eanwhile had been
moving swiftly in Russia. On, No
vember l. while the offensive against
Italy was under way, Alexander F..
Kerensky. then the, Russian premier.
announced that Russia was worn out
by the war and that the allies must
shoulder the burden thenceforward.
Seven days later Kerensky was de-
posed by the Bolsheviki. The fall and
flight of Eerensky was the signal for
Germany and Austria to enter int
peace negotiations with Russia. On
November 80 the Bolsheviki announc-
ed that Russia was out of the war and
proposed that all the allies join in
negotiations for an armistice.
Russian and German representatives
met at Brest- Litovsk on December 22.
and terms Of peace were exchanged
NO progress was made with the nego-
tiations, and the conference was brok-
EN- up on January IL. In the meantime
new republic had sprung from the
side of Russia. 1t was Ukraine, a ter
rtory extending along the Rumanian
and Galician frontier from the Black
Sea northward to Cholm, in ancient
Poland. With this republic, the Cen
tral empires made peace late in jan
uary.'
The failure of the Bolshevik author
tiles TO reach any agreement with the
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 rec.
ognize the Kingdom Of Poland, the re-
public OF Ukraine. the independence
or Finland, and the separate govern
mental status Of Lithuania, Esthonia
and Livonia. Turkey, as an ally OF
the Central powers, was given
great area to the east Of the Black
sea, including the regions of Batum
kars and Erivan.
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 offensive by which Berlin and
Vienna hoped to force the entente ma
tions to make peace.
, Runiania Capitulates.
I With the great part of her terri
tory occupied by the Germans, Aus
trians and Eulgarians, with her gov
ernment driven from Bucharest to-
Jassy and with the Russian Bolshevik
openly hostile toward her. Rumania
found herself In critical situation
Rumanian troops during February
and March, advanced into Bessarabia.
n part Of the new Republic of Ukraine
but they were hemmed in by the ene-
my forces and obliged to withdraw. At
last, on May s. Rumania signed a
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 a rectification of her wes-
tern frontier. Economic concessions
also were made under pressure from
the Teutonic alliance.
Peace Tcntatives.
I The period between December 1,
1917 and March 1. 1918. may be call
ed the period OF peace tentatives. 1t
is true that before the end of the
summer Pope Benedict made an APP
peal to the warning nations to enter
into peace negotiations, the basis for
pourparlers being the restoration OF
Belgium and Serbia and the return to
Germany OF her lost colonies. This
appeal, made on August IS, was an
swered by President Wilson on Aug
ust 20. when the president announc-
ed that the German government as
constituted could not be believed and
that the United States was ready to
enter into negotiations when the Ger
man people showed they desired
peace and when they spoke through
any authority which would be repre-
sentative OF them.
The German answer to the Pope's
appeal reached the Vatican on Sep
tember 21. II expressed hope that
further warfare could be averted
through the good offices Of the Pope.
but declined to enter into any engage
ment to meet what the allies had de-
clared to be their minimum war aims.
German Peace Offer.
German efforts to secure a peace
which would leave to Germany all
the fruits of hor victory gained
through Russia's collapse, and with
Belgium and large, portions Of France
to be used az pawns at the council
table, began with the address OF
rinn fnraipp