PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 102, 23 January 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

From the accounts thus far available, it would appear that tho meeting and speedy dissolution of the Constituent Assembly must be r'c- | garded rather as a melodrama staged in Petrograd than as a development of the Russian situation. Tho facts supplied are that ninety Bolshevik delegates in the Constituent Assembly found themselves opposed by about three times as many Social Revolutionaries, while members elected to represent tho Constitutional Democrats did nob attend. Professor Miliukofp and other leaders of the moderate parties were elected to the Assembly, but they would presumably invite assassination if they ventured to take their seats. Though overwhelmingly outnumbered, the Bolshcviki have gained the upper hand for tho time being by the exercise of military force. Some prospects arc raised of a contest for supremacy between the Bolsheviki and the Social Ixcvolutionaries, but it is doubtful whether the victory of the latter party would bring the restoration of orderly government much nearer. The Social Revolutionaries professedly represent the Russian peasants, and uphold tho view that tho land belongs to no one, and that tho right to enjoy its use is acquired only by working on it. This serves to bring them into conflict with the Bolsheviki, with their programme of nationalising everything, but whether the Social Revolutionaries can be regarded as effectively representing tho Russian peasantry—that eighty per cent, of the population which supplied tho backbone of the Army while Russia still boasted an array, and must ultimately dominate the political life of the country —is another question.

The general opinion of those who speak of Russia from recent observation, seems to be that with tho Revolution many months old the mass of tho peasant population is as far as ever from being awakened to political consciousness or stirred to an active interest in the crucial 'questions of the day. "In regard co the war," a Times correspondent wrote some time ago, "tho ideas of the peasants are far from being clear owing to their lack of education and the limited range of their political vision. All are anxious for peace, which will bring back the members of tbeir families absent at the front and hasten tho advent of the agrarian millennium. Whether peace is to be made separately or in concert with Russia's Allies after a victorious conclusion of the war, is a question that concerns them little. It is simply a waste of words to tell them that tho future of democracy at home and abroad depends upon the issue of the war, that the success of Germany would entail tho triumph of militarism and despotism in Europe, and that newly-liberated Russia could not abandon the sister democracies in the great struggle without detriment to her safety, her honour, and her place in history. They know and car© nothing about these things, nor is there anything surprising in this when we consider that till yesterday the rustics wore never expected to concern themselves with political questions, external or internal: they were- treated as children, and politically they arc children still. Their summmn bonum is the possession of abundance of land which will enable them to lead a comfortable and Romowhat indolent life in future."

Adversity and the evil fruits of rule by demagogues and traitors may expedite the education of the Russian peasants and teach them the wisdom of ranging themselves behind the moderate leaders and parties who are at present standing aloof from a hopeless (-ask. Rub there is no immediate promise of any effective check to the orgy of misrule which has culminated for the time being in the dissolution of tho Constituent Assembly. It is possible that the Social Revolutionaries may gain the support of a considerable proportion of tho peasants by promising to formally dispossess landlords and generally to institute such a land policy as the peasants desire, and that as a result the Bolsheviki may be overthrown. But while Russia could not be worse governed than with the Bolsheviki in authority, it would probably be very littlo bettor off if these fanatics gave way tn the Social Revolutionaries.

Serious developments arc reported to-day in Southern Russia. It is stated that conditions of peace between the Ukraine and the Central Powors have been agreed upon, and that although the agreement awaits formal ratification, the parties will immediately resume economic relations. This means, if it is true, that prospects of the creation of a strong Southern Union—a oontre of developing resistance to

internal disorder and to AustroGcrman penetration—are fading. At an immediate- view it would mean a likelihood of the Central Empires obtaining important supplies of food and other commodities of which they stand greatly in need. Probably, however, the news that the Ukraine has agreed to conclude peace comes through German channels, and it must await confirmation or denial.

One of the few items of campaign news transmitted to-day relates to successful operations by Arab forces against the Hejaz railway, which serves tho Turks as a lino of communication in the area cast of the Palestine watershed. ' The Arabs have for some time past been making sporadic raids upon tho railway in the area north of the Gulf of Akaba, and they are now undertaking operations upon a mora ambitious scale. It is reported to-day that they havo captured positions north of Maan (about 70 miles south of the Dead Sea), after beating the Turks in pitched engagements, and that they have also compelled the enemy to evacuate a forest which represented an important source of fuel supply. Continuing these activities, the Arabs will usefully assist General Allenby's army in Palestine and heavily increaso the problems by which the Turks arcconfronted. Persistently harried by the Arabs they will find it very difficult to make effective use of tho Hejaz; railway.