PROGRESS OF THE WAR
With matters still at the stage of suspense- in the Western theatre, the Germans have shown their hand in Russia with a boldness which is on some grounds surprising. The demands reported to-day, and the forqed marches in which the Germans are rapidly extending their occupation of the llussian Baltic provinces, admit of only one interpretation. Germany has abandoned nil disguise, and embarked openly upon a policy of wholesale plunder where llussian territory is concerned. Except in the case of Finland and the Ukraine, the shallow pretence that Gcriivany is not intent upon annexing llussian territory, but ouly upon creating autonomous States, seems to have been completely abandoned. Russia is asked to give up not only Finland and the Ukraine, but the provinces bordering the Baltic south of the Gulf of Finland, together with Russian Poland, and is curtly informed that Austria and Germany will define the further fate of these regions "in agreement with their populations." .No further evidence is needed that the Pan-Germans arc now exercising complete control over German policy, and that all counsels of prudence and moderation have for the time at least been swept aside. Apart from its immorality, the policy which has found expression in the enemy's demands on Russia and in his present military action is in a remarkable degree reckless. In itself it goes far to confirm the view that the hopes of the military party in Germany are now centred upon bringing the war to an early termination. Looking further ahead, the War Lords would almost certainly have preferred a policy of guile and dissimulation in Russia to one of open violence and spoliation.
Greedily seizing all the Russian territory .jipon which slie can lay her hands, Germany is inviting manifest perils, and it may appear ultimately that she is working out her own defeat. It is still possible that guerrilla warfare may develop in Russia on a big scale, with such results as were outlined by the Manchester Guardian in an article quoted yesterday. No doubt if Germany is compelled to send a large army into Russia, and to maintain long lines of communications against guerrilla attack, her efforts on the Western front will be very greatly weakened. It cannot yet be taken for granted, however, that the Russian population will rise in this fashion against the invaders. The principal questions raised meantime concern the probable effect of tho latest development of enemy policy upon tho populations of the Central Empires and upon the people of Allied countries. Tho immediate effect of the great forward drive now under way may be to hearten and encourage tho people of tho Central Empires, and to revive their dreams of conquest. Late and current events certainly lend little support to the idea that there is already a sharp distinction to be drawn between the military parties of the Central Empires and the masses of the popula-
* * * K. But a great revulsion of feeling may be expected when the people of Austria and Germany come to realise, as they no Joubt will before long, that the renewed invasion of Russia and the unscrupulous demands by which it is accompanied have in a most important degree sfcilTencd and consolidated the Allied nations, _ The worst clangor to whicb the Allies are exposed is not that they may bo intimidated into accepting an inconclusive peace, but
that ill-informed sections of the population in Allied countries may be duped into believing that peaco by agreement is within easy reach. Nothing could more, effectively expose tho fallacy of such, a belief than Germany's present action in Russia. She is acveloping grandiose schemes of conquest and domination at the expense of a broken nation—it is stated to-day that her advancing troops are being directed to a point midway between Petrograd and Moscow, and it is suggested also that she intends to nominate a puppet ruler of Russia. But she is at the same time taking
the course of all others best calculated to defeat intrigues and conspiracies by which she lias laboured to divide and undermine tho
Allies. Sho is demonstrating that there is no middle course in this war, and that the Allies must choose betwen continued and unflinching effort or degrading submission to an unscrupulous tyranny. * * * * At any time now a storm of battle may break on tho Western front, for it is certainly not to bo assumed that the initiative will be left to Germany, or that tho first move on a big scale will be governed by the progress of her affairs in Russia. The date on which Germany opened her Vordun offensive in 1916 has been passed, and reports relating to the condition of ground and weather point to an early spring. One of to-day's messages dealing with general conditions along the front rather suggests that the enemy is expected to make the first move, but it is likely enough that this impression is being deliberately encouraged for purposes of deception.
The fact that Turkish troops have been transferred to the Western theatre is somowhat extraordinary, in view of the admitted inability of the Turks to arrest General Alleniry's advance in Palestine. The only plausible explanation is that there is no longer any authority in Turkey capable of resisting German demands or of insisting that Turkish troops shall bo used where they are badly needed for the defence of Ottoman territory. Available evidence certainly suggests that Germany has abandoned any idea of organising a powerful counter-offen-sive in the Turkish theatres. Adhering to such a design, she would hardly have waited until the winter was nearly over, and until General Allenby had gained the splendid defensive line on which ho is now established, with one flank resting on the sea coast and the other protected by the Dead Sea and the gigantic natural moat of the Jordan Valley. It is possible, on the other hand, that the season is too far advanced to permit any material extension of the British advance in the immediate future, and this may have had something to do with the transfer of Turkish divisions to tho Western theatre.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 136, 26 February 1918, Page 6
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1,021PROGRESS OF THE WAR Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 136, 26 February 1918, Page 6
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