RUSSIAN SENTIMENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2723, 18 March 1916, Page 15

RUSSIAN SENTIMENT

THE MASSES AND THE BRITISH. A lady who has for twenty years taken a deep practical interest in Russia writes to a London paper:— Early in the autumn I returned from Rilssia, where I had spent two months in the towns and the depthß of the country, conversing with many classes, visiting the hospitals, and making myself generally acquainted with the feeling towards us. I had also been in Russia during the South African War, when the feeling against us, fed largely from German sources, _ was extremely ■bitter. 1 could but Tejoice to see how entirely that short-lived hostility had died out, and how readily the educated classes welcomed the new alliance with the country of -their admiration and respect. As to the more or less illiterate classes, I am convinced that they are 'profoundly ignorant of our existence ex. cept under the general name of Soyouznity (Allies). They do not clearly separato us from the French, who for various reasons are- more of a reality ■to them. I give one of many instances that came under my personal observation. On the homeward journey ou; train pulled up by the side of one which was packed with soldiers. From the platform at the end of our carriage I threw over a bos of cigaretes to a soldier at the opposite window. "Where are you going?" I asked. "To tho front. And you?" "Home." "To Finland?" "No; a long way off. I'm a Boyouznitza." "Oh; I see! French/ "No; English." "Anglichanka? "What's that? I don't understand." He evidently communicated my nationality to the men in the horse-box behind him. Many heads appeared at the windows. I might have said I was a visitor from another planet. One bright-looking young man inquired ■—«What part of Russia do you live in?" "Not in Russia at all. Far over the North Sea." "Where the under-watcr boats are?" He was unusually well-informed. "Yes." "Then God go with you; good-bye." Among the wounded there_ were constantly the same explanations; but post-cards of our Tommies were a source of delight, and helped better than anything to make them realise lis as fellow-fighters. In the country my friends always warned me not to speak English or French in walking | with them through the villages: "Tho peasants don't know the difforence between ono foreigner and another, and might take .you for a German." How can they love or hate that which they do not know ? There is room for a vast exchange of sympathy and information; for, while the English masses have often been wilfully misinformed about Russia, the Russian folk have no knowledge of ' us whatever.