PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 143, 6 March 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

An outline of the Bolshevik-Ger-man peaco agreement, published today, conveys in a general way the extent to which the Kaiser's Government intends to profit by the Russian collapse. Tho new frontiers are not stated, their delimitation being left to a joint commission from the contracting parties to tho peace treaty. The main point, however, is that if the treaty is ratified by the Soviet Congress this Bolsheviki will bo free- to work out their Utopian salvation in the confined epaces of Northern Russia. .It is safe to conclude that the terms of the treaty, in conformity with the German method- of doing thinge, havo been so oncompasaed by provisos, stipulations, and so forth tIM Bolshevik .Russia will find herself to be little better than a commercial vassal of Germany. In the meantime the treaty has yet to be ratified, and if Lenin's influence_ with" the Soviots counts for anything thore is no doubt that it will be ratified. Lenin, states a message to-day, is obsessed by one idea—the coming of a world revolution and the triumph of the proletariat. And to concentrate upon tho development of that idea he wants peace—at any price. It is a bad start towards his goal. It does not seem to have occurred to Lenin—or if it has he has not entertained it seriously—that he may have to fight for his idea. In this connection one of the articles of the peace treaty is particularly apropos, for it expressly stipulates that the contracting parties , shall refrain "from all agitation and provocation against the existence of tho Government or the State, and spare the populations in the occupied regions."- This, of course, covers many things, but it clearly includes under its protecting wing the preservation of German influence from Bolshevik, propaganda. Expressly forbidden, also, is any interference with .the Ukraine. The Bolsheviki are to' ovacuate the region immediately, and cease all agitation or propaganda against the Government and public institutions. Lenin's Utopia is a long way off.

It is stated in one of the dispatches to-day that Rumania has agreed to the conditions of the proposed armistice for a discussion on peace terms. Viewing the situation in Rumania in the light of recent developments, there seems to be very small ground for hope that any further resistance will be offered to the Austro-Gerraans.. Rumania is helpless. She is beyond the reach of reinforcements. She is practically encompassed by enemies. To secure the best kind of peace she can obtain from her enemies is the only thing left for her to do. As with the Ukraine, so probably with Rumania—one of tho principal articles of tho peace agreement will be a commercial one. Austria and Germany, it is stated today, have agreed to divide equally the food supplies which the people of the Ukraine, in terms of tho treaty, are required' to provide. Germany's chief hope in transforming a nation from an active belligerent to a peaceful neighbour is that she will secure some_ amelioration of her own food crisis—acute in Germany, desperate in Austria, As tho Burgomaster at Vienna expresses it to-day: "The word bankruptcy might be written on the door of the Austrian Food Department." This peace policy, or, one should Bay, this war policy ,_ has moro the appearance of possibilities than the certainty of their realisation.

The news from the Western front to-day is brightened by. the story of a brilliant coup by tho ■■French east of tho Meuso. As a result, the enemy's line was penetrated to a depth of 600 yards on a front of 1200 yards, while a counter-attack by the enemy on the flank was repulsed with heavy losses. The French troops excel in tactics of this kind. Their temperament is volatile, mercurial, and sustained at concert pitch during operations not unduly protracted is capable of accomplishing brilliant results. Dispatches from the British front indicate a comparative lull.