The sun., 1919-05-26
Closing In on Bolaheyism.

Closing In on Bolshevism.
There may be, as has been stated,
no clearly defined policy of coopera-
ton among the widely different and
diverse anti Bolshevik factions and
forces In Russia. There Is, however,
so evident a coordina ton of military
efforts as to leave no doubt Of the re-
sult Of the present widely extended
encirclng movement which 10 grad
ually and surely combining the Moscow
Soviet Government to the heart Of
old Russia and cutting 1t or from the
outside world and the support LENINE
and TRorxKY have sought to give to
and obtain from other revolutionists.
This movement has grown on the
success that 1t has attained in the
last few months. To the efforts Of
the north Russians to aid the allied
and American forces In the Archangel
and Murmansk regions and the inef-
fectual attempt OF the Don Cossacks to
recover the Black Sea region has been
added the power Of force Of Firms,
Esthonians and Lithuanians In the
west and northwest and a well organ
lied Siberian army in the east. The
combined strength of these new units,
1t can be safely estimated. represents a
! greater force than Russian Bolshe-
vism has ever before been compelled
to meet IN the field.
The original advance against Petro-
grad was undertaken by the Firms
supported by northern anti-Bolshe-
visits; they had taken the outposts of
the city, but had halted In the face of
requirements sent to its defence
from Moscow. The arrival Of the Es-
thonians, as we'll as assertions from
the Bolshevik army. has swelled the
attacking forces, according to reports,
to 100000 men. This force has COM
pletely surrounded Petrograd and
taken Its strong outer defences, making
the equalization Of the city merely a
matter Of few days. This success ha s
encouraged the commander of the al
lied forces in the Murmansk region
to move his headquarters southwark
400 miles to the mouth Of the KEN
River. The whole of northern Russia,
giving control OF the White Sea and
of the Gulf of Finland, thus passes
definitely from the power Of the Mos
! couy Covtok Goearp~apt
AS satisfying as Is this condition in
the north and west, still more encour-
aging Is the advance from the east
and south. General DENIKINE's Cos
sack army has been greatly strength.
ened by additions from the Crimea
and Ukraine and is fighting Its way
northward from Tzaritzln to form q
junction with the Siberian army. In
this portion of Russia is believed to
be the strongest and best organized OF
the Bolshevik forces. These troops
were sent into this region soon after
the signing Of the armlstice with the
evident intention Of impressing the
Allies. The failure Of the Bolshevik
system of military transportation
keeps them practically stranded and
dependent upon their own resources to
fight their way back to Moscow.
What renders the situation of thi,
Bolshevik army still more desperate 1,
the advance of the Siberian army un,
der Admiral KoLcHAK. His aim Is &c
win supremacy In all Of eastern Russia
and the advance Of his four columns
has now carried his forces across the
Volga. He has been extending hi,
lines northward toward the Dvina val
ley to the allied position in the region
Of Archangel and southwark to the sup
port Of General DENIRINE in the lower
Volga. His advance IL thus 30 steady
and so well organized that the Allied
military officials who have accompa
MED the expedition hope for the ulti
mate capture OF Moscow and the com
plete conquest OF central Russia.
These successes give IN entirely
new aspect to the Russian situation
They carry with them more perhaps
than any preceding events the convic
ton that the rule of Bolshevism
which for several months has beer
totterlng, is practically at an end
There is undoubtedly stron,
desire among the Entente Allies t,
And a power which can replace tn,
ruinous Bolsheyik rule and set up M
organized and sane government in Rus
sla. The recognition OF this new gov