lly, the situation in Russia boded ill for Germany. Great rejoicing
has taken place in Berlin and in Vienna over peace with Russia. But it
is a peace which has not altered Germany's inability to keep faith with
any Power. Her persistent worship of materialism and force has created a
situation in Russia not at all to Germany's liking. Once the Russian
border was absolutely undefended and the way to Petrograd and Moscow
wide open, Germany could not resist the temptation to march on in
continued aggression, regardless of treaty or promises or peace or
morality. And Russia has furnished strong evidence that she is not at
all complacent under such aggression.

[Sidenote: A new Russian national army is formed.]

[Sidenote: Danger of guerilla warfare.]

The Russians are in a stage of transition, and are, therefore, unstable,
mentally unsettled. They are completely dissatisfied at Germany's
interpretation of the peace terms. They see themselves being starved
that Germany may fatten on their granaries. They are reaching the point
where organized resistance is the only answer of which the situation is
capable. Steps have already been taken to form a new national army, to
offer organized resistance to further encroachments. There are also
large elements which have never accepted the unconditional surrender and
which never will. At any moment in this land of instability, the fires
which have been kindled by German bad faith and duplicity may break into
a conflagration. There is no danger at the present time--there is danger
that before the year is out public dissatisfaction and unrest may
crystallize and Germany be faced with the most colossal guerilla war the
world has seen; and while warfare of this kind cannot defeat Germany, it
can neutralize many divisions of German troops and pin them down to the
eastern front while the Allies make the finishing stroke in the west.
This situation, out of which anything can grow, made it strongly
advisable that Germany should act before the crystallization should take
place.

[Sidenote: Ready for a great blow in the West.]

Realizing that she could not wait without serious danger to herself,
Germany mustered all her resources in the west for the great blow she
was to deliver. The problem which confronted the German General Staff
was to destroy one of the two great armies, that of France or that of
England. Both could not be handled together. Germany did not have the
strength. The attack h