PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 88, 7 January 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

In their total effect references to proceedings in the German Reichstag transmitted to-day are not particularly informative, but it will bo noticed that, a deputy belonging, to tho Centr& Party (and presumably speaking in its name) is said t<) have declared .that the present '"'constitutional bodies" in Courland, Poland, and Lithuania were fully entitled to express thoir people's will as regarded the disposal of these territories. This suggests that the Centre Party is now working hand and glove with the Pan-Germans. The appointment of Count Hurtling as Chancellor was regarded as in one. aspect a move by the German militarists towards detaching tho Centre Party from the Socialists and other parties with which it joined in passing the Reichstag "peace resolution" of July last— a resolution which declared for peace- without annexations. Tho Centre Party speech reported today suggests, for what it is worth, that the manoeuvre has succeeded, and that the combination of parties which forced tho resolution through the Reichstag has been broken up. Even if it is assumed, however, that tiic German Government lias an effectiyo hold on political parties, including tho Majority Socialists, and is using them as instruments of deception, it does not follow that it is in a position to regard with indifference tho unsettling effects of events in Russia upon the population of Germany and its vassal States. A definite indication to the contrary appears in its rejection of the Russian proposal that negotiations should be transferred to Stockholm. This can only be taken to mean that the German authorities fear that to meet the Russians at Stockholm tvoulcl give the latter a new vantage-point from which, tn promote their propaganda. While Germany was engaged in corrupting and demoralising 'Russia, she unofficially promoted negotiations at Stockholm, both with an eye, to wli-it was going on in Russia find in I hehope of stimulating pacifist agita-

lion in other Allied countries. Her present refusal to send delegates to .Stockholm strongly suggests that her policy is now dominated by the fear of a counter-invasion of .Russian revolutionary ideas.

A iikpoiit asserting that tho Allies were likely to recognise the Lenin Government, that Sir Geokcik Buchanan would be succeeded as British Ambassador at Petrograd by "a diplomat in sympathy with the ideas of Revolutionary Russia," and that Citizen Litvinow, the Bolshevik envoy, would bo recognised and permitted to occupy the Russian Embassy's offices in London, would have been extremely disquieting had it been true. To-day it is given an unqualified denial, the Daily Telegraph stating that the report that 'de facto recognition will probably be accorded to the Bolshevik usurpers and Litvxnoff is baseless. It cannot for a moment be forgotten that although Germany has dictated peace terms too shameful for even the Bolshcyiki to swallow, the latter arc deficient in every title to respect and recognition. As we have pointed out recently, only leaders of the faction are charged with being under_ enemy influence, but the total achievement of the Bolsheviki has been to speed Russia along the road to ruin. The effects of their rulo are written largo in all tho recent news from Russia. They have reduced tho armies under their sway to a hungry and unprovided mob—a mob still ready to figbt, but demanding as a first essential "bread and boots"— and their influence upon the economic life of Russians quite in keeping with their record where the armies are concerned. A correspondent at Petrograd summed up their performance recently in the statement that after six weeks of administration the Bolsheviki aro forced to admit that tho resources of the State are absolutely ruined. "No State, imposts," he added, "have been coming in, tho railways have ceased to be a source of income, and all sources of income have dried up." It is painfully clear that the Bolsheviki are capable only of tearing down what they are incapable of replacing, much less of improving upon. * # .* *

The statement made by Citizen Litvixoff to a London interviewer would in itself suffice to condemn the Bolsheviki and their envoy. It all but ignores the fact that there is a distinction to be drawn between Germany and tho nations sho sought to enslave, and in speaking of Prussian militarism and Russian. French, and English militarism in the same breath Litvinoff takes up an attitude which escapes harsher censure only because it so obviously merits contempt. To enter into amicablo relations with such an envoy and the faction he represents would be shameful as well as incredibly foolish.

It will be noted that Citizen Litvixoff admits Lhafc the Bolshevik administration is repudiated by the Moderate Socialists as well <is by other parties in Russia, and all that need be said meantime about his assertion that it is supported by the great mass of the peasantry as well as by tho whole of the hide trial working class is that it is extremely open to doubt. These are matters which will be tested only when a really representative Constituent Assembly has been convened, and there is little enough hope of such an event while the Bolsheviki remain in power.' One 01 to-day's reports states that the Bolsheviki will probably summon the Constituent Assembly and imposo upon it the responsibility of concluding peace, but there is every reason for holding that if the Constituent Assembly is to represent Russia, Lenin and his gang must first bo removed. Apart from the fact that the terrible disorders reigning in Russia, and the necessity of repelling Russian propaganda, in themselves saddle the enemy with serious problems, any hope tie situation holds resta upon such events as aro reported to-day in Southern Russia. In that area, "it is stated, the 80lHheviki have entirely failed, and the Cossacks and Ukrainians are advancing. As far as it goes and for what it is worth this is good news. It is self-evident that whatever course the peace negotiations may take tho prolongation of the Bolshevik usurpation is an unqualified misfortune for Russia and for tho Allies.

The important announcement is made in a Rome official message that the Allies have sunk nearly half the German submarines operating since the outbreak of war. This supplements an announcement made by Sm Eric Geddes in November that between 40 and 50 per cent, of the enemy submarines operating in the North Sea, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans had been sunk. The First Lord of the Admiralty was speaking of the work of the British Navy, and it was explained subsequently in an Admiralty statement that he did not mention the Mediterranean in his speech because the work of pursuing the submarines in that sea was divided between several Allied navies. If the Rome message is, as it purports to be, official, it indicates that as heavy toll has been taken of the enemy submarines operating in the Mediterranean as of those cruising in the seas named in tho First Lord's statement. It is a very important point that tho rate at which submarines are being destroyed is rapidly increasing. Sir Eric Geddes stated that as many submarines were destroyed in one quarter of 1917 as in the whole of the preceding year. This adds materially to the significance of the heavy destruction of submarines recorded in his speech and in the supplementary statement now transmitted from Home.

Tt is mentioned by General Chowder in a statement which appears to-day that apart from 687,000 men mobilised for "the United Stales Expeditionary Force, an additional 170,000 men arc ready for mobilisation. That a compulsory draft of 687,000 men (bringing America's total mobilised strength up to about 1,500,000) entered camp some months ago as already known. The interest of tho statement is in the suggestion it conveys that a second compulsory draft is about to enter camn. As information stands each draft following on the first is to consist of 500,000 men, and the 170,000 men mentioned are nrobably the first section of a draft. The draft now in camp was mobilised in sections, the total mobilisation extending over several weeks. »■ * * * AocnßiMNfi to a Hur-nns Aires iiipksanp published, nn iS-itnrrlay, Coj-xt f,iTxniTnr, (autbnr nf th<}. "sink without a trace" dispatches) has been eccentric for lon years ;v(\ is now insane. This is presumably a late

example of German propaganda in tho Argentine. As an attempt to explain away tho criminal abuse of neutrality sheeted home to Count Luxisurg and his Government, it can only excite derision in those who have followed the facts. Whether Luxdukg is sane or insane, the German Government received his dispatches enjoining that Argentine ships should be- sunk without leaving a trace, and took no action towards removing him until the American Government had exposed the plot in all its details. If the German authorities are in fact responsible for the belated explanation now tendered they have still to explain whether they received the dispatches of a madman without suspecting his sanity or deliberately foisted a madman upon the Argentine Republic as German Ambassador. * # # # At time of writing no sensational event in tho war theatres is recorded, but a further advance has been made in Palestine, and much aerial activity by British squadrons is reported in the Western theatre. It is qvident that air attacks arc now being carried out on an extended scale, and the latest ventures in this category appear to have been particularly successful..