The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-12-09


probation and revision of the existing
treaty favorable to her claims. Berlin
holds that a definite sum for repara-
lions must be fixed, and feels that the
coal delivery demands are too severe
and are the sole cause for unemploy-
ment and labor disturbances in Ger
many The Germans also hope that
the Danzig corridor will be restored to
them, and that they win be given some
colonial manufactures.
An interesting story from Munich
sets forth the imminehce of new rev.
olution in Bavaria which is to make an
independent state of that second larg-
est state of the German confederation
and the creation of a regency, proba-
bly, to be followed by the selection OF
one Of the Wittelsbach family as king.
1t is planned also, that Bavaria shall
enter into an agreement with France
to guarantee her independence and OBJ
tain relief from her part of the Ger
man war burden. The story, which is
plausible, says the real ruler of Ba-
varia is Doctor Escherich, founder of
the Bavarian home militia, whose
armed strength is about 100000; that
he is backed by the former German
staff officers and monarchists, chief of
whom is General Ludendorff, and that
Ludendorff probably would be chosen
regent Escherich has refused to dis
arm his militia, and it is expected the
entente will soon threaten to occupy
the Ruhr basin in consequence. When
this is done, according to the plot, the
workers, socialists and communists
will declare a general strike and ia the
ensuing conflict the coup d'etat will
be accomplished.
Having crushed Baron .Wrangel and
expelled him and his troops from the
Crimea,. the Russian soviet govern
ment finds itself in good shape to re-
sumo negotiations for the resumption
of trade with other nations. And its
chances for recognition also are vastly
improved Most governments realized
some time ago that Russian Bolshev-
ism was not to be destroyed by armed
opposition, especially from the out
side; and nearly all except France be-
lieved that it would be useless to give
aid to the factions within Russia that
were in rebellion against Lenine and
Trotzky. Even the leaders of the
Menshivists and other wise opponents
hor
maintained that position and asserted
that the best thing to do was to recog-
! nize the Moscow government, or at
least let it alone, and that ultimately,
having nothing to fight, Bolshevism
must fall. 1t seems likely that this
view of the problem will now become
general.
The crushing of Wrangel was swift,
once the Bolsheviki had broken
through his defenses on the Perekop
peninsula. His troops were driven
back to Sebastopol and some 10000 of
them, together with many thousands of
civilian refugees, embarked there and
were carried to Constantinople and
other ports. Wrangel also escaped to
the Turkish capital.
The soviet forces were then directed
against the Ukrainians under General
Petlura, and these also were put to
rout Kiev and other cities being occu-
pied by the Reds. There was fear in
the capitals of Europe that the Rus
slams would now renew the fight
against the Poles, and certain threat
ening notes from Moscow to Warsaw
increased the apprehension.
The Turkish nationalist have desig-
mated soviet Russia as the warden of
the Orient" according to Talaat
Pasha, former vizier, and consider the
treaty between Turkey and the allies
invalid. With the help of the nation
alists, the Russians are strengthening
their hold on the country between the
Black and Caspian seas, demanding
more and more from the Georgians and
the Armenians, and opening more COM
pletely their route to Persia, and Meso-
potamia, and perhaps to India. The
British have decided not to reduce
their military establishment in Meso-
potamia for the present.
Venizelos, premier of Greece. was
badly defeated In the elections and has
reSiorad and taken refuge in France