RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 September 1919, Page 5

RUSSIA.

BRITONS IN NORTH RUSSIA. WITHDRAWAL jSTEADILY PROCEEDING. FAILURE OF OPERATIONS. DUE TO RUSSIAN INCOMPETENCE. Received 10.10 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 11.

General Maurice, in the Daily News, says the arrangements for the withdrawal 'from North "Russia are proI cceding smoothly. The operation is delicate, but prospects arc much brighter than ia month ago. The withdrawal should be completed in a few weeks. The behaviour of the Russians lighting with us has been the chief cause of anxiety since the intention to withdraw was announced, ft is well known we had -an ambitious programme for the j spring, when it was hoped to organi ise an army largely composed of Russians, which would be able to advance towards Petrograd from north and eastwards by the Vologda railway and effect a junction with Koltchak’s right, establishing a sure barrier against Bolshevikism. We also hoped to organise a combined Finnish, Lettish, and Esthonian advance on Petrograd from Ithe west, Britain supplying money and material. All the plans broke down Owing to the same cause —the incompetence of the various anti-Bolshevik forces and the impossibility of organising an efficient mili. tary force from these troops. General Maurice says Ludendorff’s reminis- j cences finally the fiction that \ the Archangel expedition exercised an influence on the issue of the war. The reminiscences show that the Murmansk landing kept four thousand Germans in Finland for four months. The Archangel landing had no effect whatever. Maurice proceeds: “We failed to galvanise the Russians into energy with troops and competent leaders on the spot, and we are unlikely to be successful if wo confine our (assistance to advice, money, and'*material. There is not the remotest chance of arriving at ,a settlement of the Russian problem during the next half-year. The only sensible course to to. revise our policy drastically and scientifically so as to make our commitments'- square with , our means. ,-r ■