The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 1918. THE RUSSIAN PROBLEM.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 June 1918, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 1918. THE RUSSIAN PROBLEM.

(With which is Incorporated The Taihape Post and Waltsmn-uo News).

Cables in connection with the war, received »yesterday, mainly centre around the dramatio appearance of the Russian leader, Kerensky, in London. His arrival must immensely deepen interest in the question of a regenerated Russia. Kerensky will, of course, be subjected to keen and exhaustive examination and crossquestioning; the full significance of his purpose and the full extent of his accreditedness as an envoy will be learned by the British Government before he is passed on to appeal to the American Government. It is certain that he comes accredited by some strong party in Russia, which has rendered his journey to London safe. It is too early to learn what his mission in detail is, but he says that Russia can rapidly be regenerated and moulded into a force that will be able to again take up forceful opposition to German invasion, and we are more concerned about the possibilities of such a regeneration than about the details of how it is £6 be brought about. At present Bolshevism rules and controls Government departments, and all means of militarily equipping a Russian army, but Kerensky says, and cables for weeks past have indicated, that Bolshevism has run its tether; has used up the means of its existence and is now fsrst ibeing relegated to the has-been category. Kerensky says that the party for whom he is acting as envoy is anxious for immediate intervention of the Allies; that Russians will fight with Japanese to save their country from slavery to Germany; that prompt action is essential to certain and easy success, as Bolshevism cannot longer be endured and the people are already advocating an appeal to Germany to put down Bolshevik plunder and murder. It can, therefore, be taken that Russia is fully ripe for permitting a.successful attempt to collect her shattered and persecuted forces into a homogeneous whole, powerful enough to drive out its would-be enslavers and destroyers. Amongst the chief desiderata is the question as to whether it could be effected in time to materially change the war situation in Allied favour hefore any tremendous sacrifice of life has been made In seeking decision in France. We. see very little reason to have any doubt about it, for it is highly probable that were the Russians who are friendly to the Allies given ready access to adequate supplies of equipment ana" food, they would work out their own salvation; but to stave off corrupting influences it is necessary that a strong force should be landed to assist them, and as Japan is the only ally that is near enough to render that help, they are anxious that Japan should send armies through Siberia at once. There is no doubt about the Italian defeat of Austria having dishevelled the plans of our enemies; that it is" having a far-reaching adverse effect in Germany, Austria and Bulgaria, politically and militarily. It has delayed the German offensive on the West front that was to prove decisive before Am-. erican millions could save the situa- | tion. It is reported that German i troops from France have already made ' their appearance on the Italian front; the German High Command's chief at. tention has to ibe, temporarily at least, transferred to "rescue work in saving a doubtful henchman from the Italian sword. There is a growing spirit of revolution in Germany; the Government is being told that all the victories gained are disguised defeats, for they come no nearer to peace, do not feed the starving, or render conditions of life more bearable. In Austria social and political conditions are incomparably worse, only general revolt and civil war could render the country less helpless as an aid to Germany, As a military force Austria is

exhausted; Its whole, concentrated strength is unable to- make itself felt in a long prepared offensive against Italy. So bad Is the situation in Austria that no statesman will accept the leadership of ; a government, a strong indication that it is not known what party is powerful enough to rule; that Emperor Karl, with the Kaiser behind him, no longer has the destinies of the Hapsburg Empire under control. There is ebullient ferment in Hungarian politics, and serious trouble for Germany is brewing rapidly amongst all Czechs, Slovenes and Poles in the whole Austrian Empire. All this is the basis of extreme concern to the High Military Command just now, and it appears as though Germany has neglected to nurse and school his allied charges until they have got irrecoverably beyond control. Quiet prevails on the West front because Germans are finding a greater menace at home and in Austria,. tEe~result of the almost complete failure of the great concentrated, co-ordinated "offensives in France and Italy that were to cripple the Allies and render a German peace assured. Another German miscalculation is giving German military leaders a very anxious time, how it will all terminate cannot at present be known, but the situation does seem remarkably opportune for a successful mission in Russia. The indications are that Kerensky will satisfy America that Japanese help will be generally welcomed by the Russians; that consent for such intervention will be given, and within twenty-four hours from that time thousands of brown men, who have been standing, waiting with bows bent, will be teeming into Siberia from the sea, and over RussoChinese frontiers. The only difficulty that has hitherto operated to withhold Japanese intervention was that a very large proportion of the Russian people might be hoodwinked into believing it was a Japanese invasion, and that they would join forces with Germany in resenting-it. The way for Russian regeneration, and for reestablishing the wall of steel against Germany on Eastern frontiers now seems open- -and clear; Kerensky has most ■'likely made his appearance in London at the invitation of the AHies, and we look forward to early movements that will be of a much more dramatic character .. than * the sudden appearance of Kerensky as Russia's representative, in Allied capital cities.