Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-02
SATURDAY, MARCH =, 1918
Has Germany "Caug hi Tartar =

II Is An ancient adage that once you
''ca,ch Tartar" YOU will not know what
to do with him Has Germany caught
A Tartar" in her invasion Of Russia
The situation in respect Of Russia s
the most surprising, the most incompre-
henslble, the most puxzling as to Its out
come, Of the entire war. IL rs something
that was never dreamed Of at the outset.
and what will come Of it no man can
iorctell
RUSSIA entered the war as the ally OF
serbia, to protect that little country
rom annlhilation by Austris. After
wards, she entered into compact with the
Entente Alhcs 10 resist the aggressions OF
Germany and Austria-HungaIy. She de-
uherately gave her pLphted national faith
- a promise 10 consider no suggestion
II = separate peace, and 10 unite with her
allies when the time came for the oonsid-
Grafton az peace propositions
But events have moved and conditions
have changed in Russia, most marvel
ouslv. during the past year. First came
the great revolution. by which the mon
archS was destroyed over night. This
was no; cause of national gricf, because
i has been apparent during the war that
the Russian monarchy was not altogether
pa,lng fair with the Allies Had it sup
ported Grand Duke Nicholas in his sur
pr,slngly successful campaigns against
Germany and Austria ~ the East, It
might have made a difference IN the re-
suits But trcachery in Petrograd, fail
arr % send rcinforcemcnts and supplies,
uulhEed Ill the SUCCESSES OF Nicholas
campaign and compelled him TO retreat.
But hc proved a mastery Of strategy and
saved las army from capture.
After the revolution there was hope,
for sN tAc II IN aggressive Russian cam
paien ag,unst the Central Powers. But
no, Tor ioEg kercnsky failed and was
overthrown Then came the reign Of the
Boishcvlk and the assli. ption 10 power
of leninc and Trotzky What followed
Is recent and wclI-known history. They
abandoned 'he war made no attempt
10 utih1c the armies of Russia even for
ns'loud defence, and opened Russian
ierrtor, to the almost undisputed ad-
,ano, Of thc German forces
Bu, mat Germany viii proceed 70 the
..Ntent u practically overrunning Rus
ia and sub. .ecting that country to its
.ontrol > another matter 1t really
-,am, - though the ordinarily astute
German statesmen are doubtful as to
-. course they should pursue with re-
speet "a RUSSIA The news Of yesterday
"a, that tie German INVASION Of Russia
lad slowed down That instead Of
continued march towards Petrograd,
there Was a halt oi the armies and sus-
p,nsion of active military operations.
Il Is difficult to estimate what this
may faeau That Germany could sweep
ou Ia Petrograd tnd take charge Of the
national capital that she could take
Moscow sud every other place Of I'M
rortancc IN the eastern section OF the en-
pre. IS acknowlc dyed Yet she has
halted N her campaign and shown evi-
denc,-- of indeclslon
And nov conc reports that the Rus
.ian troop hsve recovered their fight
tng sprIt and are giving evidence of
deterrnInatIon to hght once more. But
'he serious difficulty is they have no
responsible government behind them.
l,enine and Trotzky have shown them
selves ~ arrant towards and cannot
b. expected TO have much more Influence
n Russian Affairs, especially II the very
important matter OF InauguratIng an ef-
fectlye defensive military campaign.
But why should Germany hesitate at
tins point The game seems easy TO
her hands, vet she has halted her mih
tiary operations Can it be she has 8
dread Of what Japan may do If she should
Inslst upon a thorough conquest Of Russia?
Japan, thus far. has kept out OF active
war operations, except for the purpose
of driving Germany from her fortified
post ia China, which she did, quickly and
effectively, III the early days OF the war.
She has been attending to business and
no doubt proiiting by industrial activity
arising from the needs OF the war. She
has al army and navy, both IN condl-
ton for effective service. May it not be
that Germany secs a menace OF Japan
~ RussIa, and therefore hesitates TO
take full advantage Of the disrupted and
almost helpless condition Of that country?
Who can say ? History is being made
rapidly in these times and there is no
telling what day may bring forth And
while wo look with dismay on distracted
and disrupted Russia, and wonder what
her people may do 70 bring her out Of
her present plight and restore her 20 her
lnrIner position as a world empire, we