1915 AND 1815.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 99, 22 October 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

1915 AND 1815.

SOME REMARKABLE PARALLELS —AND GOOD OMENS.

Superficial comparisons between the Russia of 1812 and the Russia of 191;"), Bays the London "Daily Graphic," have been plentiful during the past few days. The resemblance is deeper and more significant than can be divined by merely scratching the surface of history. It is also one which should inspire the Allies with a calm confidence as to the future. The Tsar is a worthy representative of Alexander I. in the tenacity of his purpose, plus a democratic instinct foreign to the autocratic nature of his ancestor; W iihelm of Germany is a poor substitute for the Napoleon which he apes. As it was largely duo to Alexander I. that Europe ,was finally rescued from the dominance of the genuine Napoleon, it may well be that the Europe of our days will be saved from enthraldoin to the pinchbeck Napoleon by the assistance of Nicholas 11. That the spirit which inspired me Tsar of 1812 resides in the Tsar of 1812 resides in the Tsar of 1915 is clear from many signs. We were reminded yesterday of the solemn words in which the Tsar summoned hs people to war a year ago; ... ~ x I here solemnly declare that we will not conclude peace until the last enemy soldier has left our land. Those words recall exactly the proclamation made by Alexander 1. in the ,1 uly of 1812 when Napoleon began his great offensive against Russia. Tnt> parallel is remarkable: The defence of our country (Alexander said), of our independence and national honour, have forced me to draw the sword. I will not return it to the scabbard as long as a single enemy remains on the Russian ternUu'SSIA'S UNCONQUERABLE SPIRIT.

Let it be remembered, too, that the counterfeit Napoleon began his great attempt against Russia a full month later than the real Napoleon. The invading force of 1812 had triumphantly crossed the Nicmen and the Bug ini the first days of July. Although then the authentic Napoleon had the advantage of a month on his time-table, that grace of days was not sufficient to avert the overwhelming catastrophic of his retreat from Moscow. In his race against time the fatal winter of Russia overtook and annihilated him. What will be the fate of the spurious Napoleon if, with a month to the bad, lie attempts further imitnton of his model ? M Allison has reminded us, in ins History of Europe," that the spirit ot Russia rose in proportion to the danger with which it was threatened: As the French army advanced, and the dangers of Russia increased, it augmented in strength; and while the ardour of the invaders was quenched by the difficulties of their enterprise, the spirit of the Russians iose with the sacrifices which their situation required. MOSCOW AND WARSAW. For the past two or three days it his been a commonplace of Petrograd messages that the Grand Duke has to make a decision which will largely influence the fate of Europe. That factor was recignised by Alexander 1. in 1812. He called upon his people lor heavy sacrifices, adding: "May the destruction with which we are menaced recoil upon the head of the invader, and may Europe, freed from the joke of servitude, have cause to bless the name f Russia." Again, in declining to hazard a battle of decisive nature which might endanger the solidarity and mobility of his armies, the, Grand Duke s following the strategy which was so successful in 1812. He, too, realises that lor the time his best policy is to retire, nud so draw Irs enemy further horn his base, making it impossible all the time to draw any supplies from the land he invades. If the Grand Duke has decided to relinquish Warsaw, it must be remembered that in so doing he will make a far smaller sacrifice than the GcieraU of 1812 when they resolved to evacuate Moscow. The unanswerable reason will be the same in both events. Kutiisoif feared that if he risked a batth for Moscow he would be beaten. "The safety of the country,'' ae argued, "depends on the preservation ol the army; a victory would not rid us of the enemy, while a disaster so near Moscow would occasion its entire destruction." A WONDERFUL PARALLEL. Perhaps, however, the most striking lesomblance between to-day i; position and that of 1812 may be read between the lines of the proclamation issued by Alexander I. in mid-November. It might have been penned by Nicholas 11. a few days ago:

It is well known to the whole world in what manner the enemy has entered the boundaries of our Em pire. No steps or means that have so frequently been resorted to by the punctual fulfilment of tne peaceable stipulations, nor our steady endeavours by all possble mean* to avert the effects of a bloody and destructive war, have been able t.) check his obstinate design, in which bo has shown himself entirely immovable. With peaceful promises on Irs tongue, he never ceased to think of war. At length, having collected 1V large army, ... he put himself in motion with this immense foe, supplied with vast quantities of artillerv and penetrated into the interior „f our country. Murder, fire and destruction were h : s attendants on the march ... in one word all kinds of cruelty and barbarity, hitherto unheard of, at length prove by hj« own actons, that they nave long been concealed in the depth of his mind. . . The possession of the whole world could not satsfy him, so long as the fertile of 'Russia still were happy.

Rut it was on a confident note Alexander I ended his address to his people. After a tribute to the ' mvinrible perseverance of the whole nat on," he added: "With the courage of such a nation, we entertain the most well-founded hopes." Russia st.ll that invincible spirit. Her T\nr to-dav is even more lust'fied than jus mcestor of IKI2 in looking to the future with un«nnken assurance.