The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-03-25
Indications Are That Boil
sheviki Plan Is Surren-
der to Germans
BEHAVIOR PECULIAR
AND SUSPICIOUS
The Teutons Helping Them
selves to the Rich
Quarries

London, March % The Times says
oditorially; "fhe steady advance of the
German forces in Russia gives in meas
ure the designs of the enemy upon the
great productive territories of eastern
Europe. which now lie at their mercy,
The behavior of the Boshevik leaders
Al this critical iuncturo is to say the
least extremely peculiar and suspicious.
They have nearly all fed from Petro-
grad, although there Is no visible indi.
cation that the Germans intend TO adj
vance beyond Narva on the borders
of Esthonia and their decision to flee
practically constitutes an invitation TO
the enemy to occupy Petrograd, while
their prospective Abandonment OF Mos.
COW becomes comprehensive IN view OF
the statement that the Germans propose
10 establish commission of control
with the rights of veto and extra terri
toriaIity in Moscow as we'll as in Petro-
grad.
TN Ukraine they have seized a great
slice of the black earth region the finest
granary of Europe and by far the most
populous area OF European Russia. The
swift advances upon Niakolaief and
kharkoh indicate conyerging movement
towards the coal and iron fields of the
DonetZ basin, where Russia obtained 20
per cent OF her coal and pig iron and 30
pei cent OF her steel. II will now be
understood why the boundaries OF the
lath and plaster of Ukraine state were
flung so far eastward.
For Great Britain another problem
is arising of special and imperative
kind The Turks will soon be at Batoum,
they may be there alreadq, They must
also be moving from Erzerum upon the
fortress of kars. Batoum is the termi
nus of the Transcaucasian railway and |
at Sariki Mish, west of kars, the Turks |
will obtain access to an important T
branch line Once these two termni /
are seized by the enemy they will prob
ably not be long before they reach the .
Caspian in spite of possible resistance
OF the disorganized troops in the new
Caucasian republic If the enemy can
cross the Caspian sea and penetrate
along the Transeaucasian railway TO the
states of Russia in central
Asia, where Turkish emissaries are al
ready stirring up strife, they will open
great possibilities for mischief The
branch railway from Merit to kushk
ends within day or two's ride of Serat,
the key of Afghanistan. Should it be
thought that menace from central Asia
is still remote we may point out that
way to Persia and Armenia and Trans
lies open and ready for inn
mediate use. We may be certain that
as soon as Germany has completed her
in southern Russia and the
Turks have occupied the valuable regions
md cities of Transcaucasia, coded to
hem with disfraeeful pusillanimity by !
he Bolsheviki, we shall witness a fresh |
INVASION of Persia. The Germans and ,
Turks earlier in the war had nearly
cached Teheran when the Russians
rove them headlong out of it, They t
nay again attempt to take Teherah and 9
apture the young Shah They may
move down the Turco- Persian frontier r
nd endeavor TO strike General Mar
halls long communications in Mesopo ?
anna simultaneously attacking the val c
able oil fields of the Anglo Persian Oil a
ompany on the karun river. They are 1
kelly to pursue their original intention
{ reaching the frontier of Afghanistan t
nd trying to raise the Afghans against n
s." n