RUSSIA'S REAL POSITION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 338, 9 November 1915, Page 3

RUSSIA'S REAL POSITION.

FAILURE OF GERMANY'S AIMS

(By Professor Pares.)

(Ths article, was Avritten early in September, and later developments justify and confirm the statements made by Professor Pares, who was the British Press representative with the Russian Army.)

In the lust few days one feels somehow that the tension of Russia's positon, and, therefore the whole Allied cause, has slackened perceptbly. Everyone has become more at etse, and this is shown in the tone of all that is written in the Press. For myself, who have followed, the military and political position very closely, both in Russia and here, I will go so far as to say that the crisis is past. From the time when the enemy began his great thrust in the south-west of G/allicia I am quite certain that he was aiming simply at oe thing: he was trying to bring Russia to separate herself from the Allies. If he could not do that he could do nothing on the eastern side. The idea of a conquest of Russia, or of forcing peace on Russia, was always from the start ridiculous. Russia could never be compelled to make peace: she could only be induced to desire it. For this object there was a perfectly clear programme, of which every detail soon became apparent. Of course, the Russian army had to be beaten with as many losses as possible; above all, Russia was to be persuaded that her Western Allies could do nothing for her; Poland was to be woi, and then a liberal peace was to be offered to Russia. This was the lesson of previous experience. It is not melodrama; it is clear common sense for any invader to fear a too deep advance into Russ>. Napoleon spent infinite time in preparing his invasion, and was lost because so difficult a task could not be conquered by organisation. He started too late (in June), because there was no grass for his horses to cat earlier What would be the prospects of an invasion of Russia proper beginnin g in the month of September? As Napoleon himse?f said: "Moscow is not a military position at. all, it is only a political position." You do not drive Russia to peace by taking Moscow; still less if Moscow is burned. Napoleon put'all his money on this political position, and all the way back he was repeating to his companions the words: "It is only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous."

As it was then so it is now. Evenposition in Russia is a political one, and not primarily military. The ques--tion is how you can induce the Russians to make peace, because you cannot force them. to. The hopelessness of the military task is clear to every German soldier. I found when I was : n Galicia that it was exactly after their crushing successes there that they for the first time" showed great despondency. I remember asking an officer whom we took at Seniwa where was the spot, on the map where Germany could force Russia to a decision. He ansewred that, of course, there was no such spot, and he more than once

spoke of it as the catastrophe for his country.

M. Sazonoff's Declaration,

•' This being so. Germany could only hope to act on the temper of the Russians r.nd their rulers. And this is a subject on which the Emperor William has shown himself as ignorant as the Emperor Napoleon. The Germans have had their successes; they have made their shot; they have failed, and thoy know "it. The turning point in the whole process, to my mind much the most important fact of the last week, was the announcement made by M. Sazonoff to all public men and writers in Petrograd. M. Sazonoff is a very quiet man, and his simple straightforwardness is one of the greatest reason* for the immense confidence which his country places in him. His announcement, which had not a word that could be dispensed with, amounted to this: That the German successes had been accompanied by repeated negotiations for peace, which Russia had refused unconditionally; whenever they were renewed they would be refused again.

But this meant the collapse of all that' Germany had been playing for. Military success was secondary. We are approaching the time when the Russian roads will break up. The country through which the Germans will have to advance is at first a marshy plain. and later on a plateau broken with innumerable cross-gullies, in which the Grand Army of NapOleon, in spite of efforts of men and horses, left .practically all its comparatively light field artillery. Motor transit, one of the glories of the advancing German army, wili here be useless. It is not oniv the heavy guns which will have to be left behind. Pine Russian Spirit. Meanwhile one thing is clear. I was with the retreating Russian arm;from the Carpathians to the Russian frontier, and its morale was not altered oin the very slightest by the terrible ordeal of artillery fire to which it \\vsubjected day after day. Units reduced to a. tenth of their strength sh-owe" the same, nay. a higher spirit than before. When darkness put a. term '

the unequal conditions our people faced about and showed the enemy who wa? master when the fighting odds were equal. The Germans, and still more the Auv trians, were both worn out, both ir: strength and spirit during this interminabfe advance. The end was to V peace, which is the one great desire that I have always heard expressed by every prisoner of the enemy. Peace was to come because the Kaiser had promised it. But it was quite recognised that peace could not come till Russia chose to accept it. We have now had the test; it means failure: and any prospect of an endless march towards the Ural Mountains will strike more terror into the advancing enemy than even the thought of a retreat.

M. Sazonoff's owrds have bc-n clinched by the message of his Sovereign to the French people; and it is now for the enemy to ask what he can do next. NO COIiP IS NAZOL-PROOP!

ZEPPELIN RAID ON LONDON. A SENSATIONAL STORY BY ONE OF THE CREW. (Times and Sydney Sun Services) LONDON, Nov 7 The "New York American" translates a Hamburg newsppaer's account of the Zeppelin raid on London, written by a member of the crew. Our captain (the writer state's) by compass straight to London. The crew discussed the situation and agreed that it was rig!ht to kill Mesrs Asquith and Lloyd George. We carried four t.on s of the most destructive explosives ever created sufficient to annihilate the heart of London. We divided it into bombs of lOOlbs each and dischargea them from tubes in the floor of the airslhip, the marksmna pressing an electric button, releasing them at intervals of two seconds. We sailed low, following the Thames and reached the heart of London. We recognised St. Paul's. We went west of fashionable London and circled round, peppering death on the solar plexis of t!he British Empire. Beneath us were the Strand theatres and hotels, Houses of Pari.: ment, Government Offices, Pill Mall and Buckingham Palace. It was a night terror for London. Searchlights tiiid guns played on us constantly, but it was difficult to hit us at a height, of 8000 feet. One shot struck the forepart of the Zeppelin. An expert climbed out to inspect the damage, but lost his footing and disappeared. We enjoyed a feeling of tremendous power and security. We threw all our supply of bombs and turned home.

The story contains many obvious inaccuracies, such as that the Zeppelin almost collided with the dome of St. Paul's which only quick he'lmanship saved.