The sun., 1919-09-12
TTotEI1y's Call for the Defence Of
Petrograd.


The despatch sent out from the
Soviet headquarters at Moscow re-
porting TRoTzKY's appeal for the de-
fence Of Petrograd, the proposal of
peace with Esthonia and the claims
Of military successes In the east and
south are eloquently expressive of the
fact that Bolshevism, finding itself
confined to central Russia, feels the
danger Of the constantly narrowing
ring with which the anti-Bolshevist
forces have enclrcled 1t. The marked
change In the situation Is that a gain
by the Soviet Government has less
Significance than formerly; 1t means
merely local advantage that is likely
to be more than counterbalanced by
a loss on another front, for Bolshe-
vism is fighting not widely separated
and disconnected military forces but
armies under central leadership and
In close cooperation.
Where to strike against the encir-
cling forces with the most effective
ness is the question. An able mill
tary leader might solve this problem
but so far none has appeared and the
actual supreme command seems to be
IN the hands Of TRoTzKY. He turned
his forces against KoLoHAK's army
when 1t had reached the Volga and
by sheer strength of numbers drove
it back into Siberia. But that the
Bolsheviki captured Omsk, the capital
of the Kolchak Government, as
TRoTzKY reported, Is doubted. In fact
authoritative information is to the
effect that KoLoHAK is holding his
line at this point, hoping for allied
aid to take again the offensive.
The diversion of Bolshevist troops
that made this gain possible weakened
the line In southeastern Russia and
gave General DENIKIN, the Cossack
commander, an opportunity to advance
almost to Saratoff and to gain con-
troll of the lower Volga and the Gas,
plan region. This advantage General
DENIKIN has followed up by the cap.
ture of Kiev, the Ukrainian capital
he is now able to form junction with
the Ukrainian army under General
PETLURA and to force the Bolshevist
army beyond the Pripet and out OF
Ukraine. The advantages that
TRorzKY gained over KoLoHAK in the
east have thus been bought at the
cost of much more valuable positions
in the south.
In turning to Petrograd TRoTzKY
hopes to make break in his enemies
that will carry Bolshevism to the Bal
tic coast The city has been besieged
by forces of Firms and Esthonians
and Cronstadt, its seaport on the Gull
of Finland. has been captured and the
Bolshevist ships in the harbor de,
stroyed. TRoTzKY offers to make
peace with the Esthonians, assuring
them of Independence and Bolshevist
support; he threatens the Firms with
an attack on their whole front and
an invasion OF their country If they
remain before Petrograd.
The security Of Petrograd is i'm,
portant to Bolsnevism for other rea.
sons than its Importance as a Rus
sian city. 1t affords an opportunity
for the cooperation of the Soviet
forces with the army Of General Won
DER GoLTz, which still remains in the
Baltic provinces and has been a per,
sistently disturbing factor in tht
peaceful readjustment of Poland
Esthonla. Lithunnia and Letvia. Pc
trograd has been the chief seat of the
German elements In Russia Soviets
have been formed from German prls
oners of war and they have had spe
cial privileges for the closest communi
cation with Germany, German infiu
ence was never stronger In Petrograd
than It is to-day, and TRorzKY finds
that he cannot ignore the demand that