Evening star., 1918-07-25
UNLIKELY TO SEND
ARMY TO SIBERIA
Japan's Reply Here, But An
nouncement of U. S. Policy
Is Withheld.
new EAST FRONT PLANS
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright. 1918. by the New York Evening
Post Company.
As the time approaches for an an
nouncement of our governments
policy toward Russia-for Japan's
reply to the American proposals has
now reached Washington-it becomes
apparent that what the allies even
tually will do differs considerably from
the dozens Of plans and projects that
have been suggested In recent months
The Department Of State today
would not discuss the Japanese reply
beyond saying that the situation was
still unsettled and that definite an
nouncement would be made just as
soon as decision was reached. but
while the general impression has
been that the United States asked
Japan to send military force into ST.
IBERIA, the truth Is no military ex-
pedition Is contemplated for Siberia
beyond the reinforcement OF the
Czecho-Slovaks now in Vladisvostok.
More feasible Eastern Front.
The fact of the matter is that in
stead of trying to reach Germany by
the roundabout and uncertain avenues
of the Transsiberian railway. thou
sands and thousands of miles away
from the main bases of allied supply,
the idea of getting at Germany by
creating a new eastern front north
ward from the Adriatic to the Baltic
is commencing itself as much more
feasible and effective in the long run.
For the present. of course, the Sc
lection of commission to go by way
of Vladivostok to canvass the posi-
bilities of assistance and to bring
promptly to the Russian people such
aid as they may need. is one way to
show Russia the depth OF American
sympathy and interest, but the real
way to demonstrate to the Russian
people that the allies are vitality con-
cerned in preventing incursions from
the German empire is to drive a
wedge between Germany and greater
Russia
The Czecho- Sloyaks now in Vladi-
vostok could be made the nucelus of
force moving eastward, but they would
have to travel through vast territory
and the chances are that Germany would
stir up enough trouble and friction to
make the organization Of large mill
tary enterprise continuously hazardous.
Want to Fight in France.
On the other hand. the Czecho-Slo-
walks really want to be transported to
France or elsewhere to fight Germany
combats with the bolsheviki or other
Russian factions. They are striving to
get at the central powers who have so
long withheld liberty from their op-
pressed races.
Prof. Masyral, who is the leader In.
Washington Of the Czecho- Slovaks. has
been pressing for ships and equipment
to transport the Czecho- -Slovaks to
France, but the suggestion has now
been made that these troops be sent to
ward with Italian. British and French
troops in an effort to penetrate those
parts of Austria which are in revolt or
near revolt
Long Military Line.
What would be constructed there
fore, is a military line from Belgium
to Saloniki with the hope that from
the latter point as well as points on
northward with Czecho-Slovak troops
in the vanguard. This would be a
dramatic touch to the great crusade
for world democracy and demonstrate
Czecho-Slovaks that the entente is as
anxious as they are to procure lib
erty for these subjugated races.
Another reason for the re-establish-
ment Of an eastern front is yitally re-
be made before durable peace can
be expected. To the men who have
been giving thought to what America
would stand for at the peace confer
ence. the idea Of allowing Russia to
remain at the mercy Of her next door
neighbor, Germany. even during
period Of probation following the ces-
sation of hostilities.. is looked upon
with grave apprehension
Rather Is it sought to have a Slavic
federation created on the Russian
frontier which would act as a buffer
state or barrier. No such plan could
hand ba until the allies by q demonstra-
ton Of force, gained possession of suf-
ficient ground SO as to compel the
establishment of a Slavic federation.
Able Now to Thin Line.
It is obviously impossible to begin
a northward drive from the Adriatic
at once, but as the situation on the
French front grows better and an
other million Americans has been sent
the allied forces for an invasion Of
Austrian territory would be bright
In other words, the allies stand far
more chance Of getting at Germany
by coming down from Murman and
Archange1 on the north, in the hope
vance from the Adriatic, than by try
| ing the protracted and uncertain Jour
new over the Transsiberian railway,
with transportation facilities still in
bad condition and ocean tonnage for
the voyage across the Pacific very
costly.
The Mediterranean route is shorter.
| The allies would be able to send both
supplies and men either to Archangel
or the Adriatic with much less dffH-
Guilty than across the Pacific.
Similarly a military movement from
the Adriatic north would pass through
| regions of territory where the people
would welcome their brother Czecho-
I Slovaks as well as allied aid, and
the moral support Of the population
| would be no inconsiderable factor.
| The plan would have for its object
| <ho orro d,,aI redraw ~ a ,;n-