The Daily News. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1916. RUSSIA'S TRANSFORMATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1916. RUSSIA'S TRANSFORMATION.

As considerable interest and not a little anxiety has been felt as to Russia's present position with regard to her military forces and their equipment, the story related by the Russian War Minister (General Polivanoff) in to-day's cables should attract exceptional attention. Unlike many of the published statements that emanate from war correspondents and self-styled military critics, implicit reliance can be placed on what General Polivanoff says, for he is not only a military expert, but is also in charge of the Russian War Department. Moreover, he was assistant Minister of War from 190(1 to 1912, when the Russian army was reorganised, and for five years edited the Russki Invalid, a military journal, which he raised to the status of an educational paper much read by young officers, and he is also the author of an excellent book on army supply. It will he seen, therefore, that he is exceptionally fitted to make a pronouncement on the evolution of the Russian army during the war. His object is evidently to show that Russia is now thoroughly prepared for all emergencies in the field, whereas in the early stages of the war she. had to face a tragic crisis, being forced to retreat, owing solely to lack 11' shells. As a matter of fact Russia, like Britain, entered upon the war totally unprepared to cope with the German war machine which had been cavofully and systematically framed and perfected during many years. Russia had the men and managed to move them forward by slow degrees, but was robbed of her anticipated victory on account of shortage of ammunition and especially of high explosive shells, hence there was no alternative but to retreat and prepare for offensive operations on a scale that would enable her to meet the enemy on even terms. To-day, says the Minister, the munitions crisis no longer exists, except as a sinister memory. It was not until September of last year that the Russian batteries could make themselves felt, and since then there has been a marvellous transformation in her industrial activity, enabling her to dispense with supplies from abroad, and to look with confidence as to the future. It will be noticed that General Polivanoff, while referring to Russia's great mass of men under arms, wisely avoids giving details that would be useful to the enemy, but he mentions there is a permanent reserve of a million and a half young recruits wherewith to fill up the gaps caused by the wastage of war, without having to send insufficiently trainpd men to the front. He also emphasises the contention that has been put forward, by. all the Allies, that as the war is prolonged so will the allied forces in•vcase, while those of our enemies will decrease, and there is no uncertainty as !o his opinion concerning the result o". the war—the Germans must meet their imitablo fate. Russia's new position is a credit to the nation, which has nobly responded to the unprecedented demand for endeavor and sacrifices, Colonel Repington (the croaking m 1! tary critic of the London Times), con/de ■= that the Germans may only rattle the Allies in the West and then turn I and seek to overthrow Russia by a stroke at Petrograd; also that it would be possible to destroy the Russian fleet. Most things are possible, but the Russians are not likely to pay much heed to such vaporising. l -. Had it been in their power, the Germans would certainly have destroyed the Russian fleet long ago, but the boot has been on the other foot. Russia's help to the British in Mesopotamia cannot be too highly regarded, for that region is one of the clanger zones of the war, and it is more than likely that Germany will make a bold bid for supremacy in that locality, her threatened attack on Egypt and the Suez Canal being used as a feint. The enormous forces of Russia can, and doubtless will be, utilised to the greatest advantage at many points when the winter is over, and it is with the greatest satisfaction that the assurance of her preparedness will be received, based as it is on unimpeachable authority.