GERMANY AND RUSSIA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 87, 3 August 1914, Page 4

GERMANY AND RUSSIA.

Early in the present year Germany’s inspired and semi-official Press exceeded itself in the virulence of its attacks on Russia, and commenting upon this a notable writer on European affairs remarked: —“The German Press would seem to have suddenly awakened to the fact that Germany’s rnili-tax-y efficiency has risen to the highest level it is likely to attain for some years to come, whereas during those years Russia’s strength, already redoubtable, will be growing by leaps and bounds. Remembering their stock arguments against the three years’ military service in France, that a nation whose population is hardly forty millions cannot hope to vie with a neighbour which has nearly seventy millions, it may have occurred to these publicists that a State which numbers a population of hardly seventy millions cannot in the long run hope to keep abreast of a rival which boasts nearly one hundred and seventy millions. Time is on Russia’s side, providing not only number but quality. The longer peace lasts, therefore,' the moi’e formidable Russia will become, and the less likely will she be to acquiesce gratuitously in Germany’s designs on Asia Minor or elsewhere. At present she is in a position much inferior to that of her Western neighbour. Why not utilise the opportunity?” The part ascribed to Germany in the Triple Alliance, according to Colquhoun and other writers, was to assist Austria in the event of an attack by Russia, so that by provoking Russia to take the initiative Austria will have complied with the terms of the Alliance and be entitled to German support. “It is assumed,” writes Dr. E. J. Dillon regarding Germany r ’s attitude, “that Russia is in a condition of great inferiority as compared with Germany to-day. Her army is still in flux; the work of reorganisation has not yet been completed. Her internal state is characterised by the weakness that comes of the strife of nationalities and parties. She must keep quiescent. That is the view taken by the German personage who gave the signal for the Press campaign.” Another writer, reviewing the positioxi of the Dual Monarchy not long ago, said: “All who are acquainted with the facts are aware that Austria is seriously contemplating a war with Russia. It is hot without good reason that Austria lias mobilised a very large part of her army.”