RUSSIA AND THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 May 1916, Page 3

RUSSIA AND THE WAR.

VICTORY ASSURED. BUT IT MAY TAKE ANOTHER THREE YEARS.

(By S. Turner, F.R.G.S., author of "Travel and Exploration in Siberia," etc.)

Having travelled extensively in the Russian Empire and written about the country (the result of travel and studying Kussian history), perhaps a few ideas as to the part Russia is able to take in this war might be a stimulant to those pessimists who can see no nations only the Central Powers in this war. 'Russia lias more to gain out of this war than any of the nations lighting on either side. There are 120 different dialects and languages spoken in the Russian Empire, and the almost impossible task of welding this scattered empire together in one bond of sympathy and brotherhood, in my opinion, could never have been accomplished in Russia's stage of development without the war. To-day the anarchists, socialists, labor agitators and idealists, whether poor or rich, are bound together in one great determination to defeat the German Empire; more particularly the Germans, because of the part the Germans liave played in Russia in the past in connection with jerfdom and anarchy against the Czar and Ma dynasty. Life in Russia is held more cheaply than in any country that is-now fighting, and with Russia's 1,300,001} fresh troops coming to the colors each year of military age (which can be considerably increased by lowering or raising it) the Germans will have a practically impossible task to conquer Russia; in fact, it is absolutely impossible to conquer Russia by invasion, owing to the exceptionally cold and long winter, and the'distances being so great from one town to another.

The simple faith end loyalty of the Russian soldier in the -Russian army during this present war was seen where, in one instance, the coldiers lay down in a hole while the guns were drawn across their bodies when ,the officers found there was no other way to get guns across these hole?. This is recorded in "The Times' History of the War" during the advance in Galicia. The fighting ability of the Russians has been established as equal to either the Germans or the Autrians; in fact, they have proved to be the only nation fighting on either side with power to inflict a "knock-out" blow. The "Times' History of the War" records Russia as inflicting a loss of half a million men during one month in the early days of the campaign in August, 19H, and" in addition to this half a million men, 160,000 took refuge in Pr/.emysl, 120.000 of whom furrendered the following' March, the other 40,000 having been killed. This is the greatest achievement in the history of this or any other war (only one month's ■work); and although the Germans had ' the Russians at their mercy for several months during the great Russian retreat they were unable to inflict upon the Russians more than one-quarter of this gigantic loss in any one month. In m}' opinion, this war on the laud will .only be finished by the loss of sufficient lives, and 'it will ta'lce one or two of these tremendous sudden defeats before any army on either side can invade the enemy's country as conquerors. Already nearly two years' history of the war has been published, and, taking the Times History, it is quite clear that Russia has inflicted the most effective blow that has been inflicted by any of the combatants. It appears to me that there are nations fighting in this war who are too civilised to lose the number of men necessary to win the war on land, but Germany has an advantage owing to the power of the military caste over the nation, but even Germany's power in this direction—which is one of forceis not to be compared with the absolute power of the Czar and the loyalty and devotion of his subjects, as shown in their self-sacrifice and in their holding life so cheaply. Twenty-five million men might be killed of the Russians, but there is no public opinion in Russia able to stop the war, while if 25,000,000 men were killed on any side of the other combatants it. is very probable that a revolution would follow, and with such internal trouble the war could not continue.

I am proud of the part that Russia is taking in this war, more so because in 1905.T published a book making very strong arguments in favor of a better understanding with Russia. At this time the British Empire was very bitter against Russia, and very much in favor of Japan. The reviewers of my book, agreed that I had sounded n note which previous authors had overlooked, and that a better understanding would be advantageous to the British Empire. Four or five years after that a perfect understanding existed between England and Russia, to our great advantage in tliis present struggle. j The Central Powers are marvellously situated, geologically and geographically. We have the unfortunate disadvantage of being on the outside of a wheel, and in this respect we require more men than the Central (Powers. The geological and geographical disadvantages on the western front, and the fact that most of the territory we are attacking (except on tl-«.- Russian side) is very much against us, for this reason, together with the scientific trench defences, my opinion is that the war will not be won from the western front, but if we keep fierwany well occupied and inflict big losses, Russia, will advance and take territory important enough and inflict losses large eu»ujh to conquer the Central Powers.

As to the duration of the war, I am very pessimistic, and I reason that if German has taken about twe years to invade a country which was not well defended by unprepared armies, how leng will it take us to get that territory- back while Germany, although weakened, is able to defend it by scientific trench fortifications? The Central Powers have acquired territory, and their empire is about thirty to forty per cent, bigger since the war started, and it will end victoriously for the Allies, but I cannot see how the war can be finished earlier than this to end in a crowning victory for the Allies. No doubt the slaughter will be tremefulous, and every Britisher up to fifty years of age may be called upon, but ray opinion is that after the next two years there will not be very much fight left in any of the Powers except Russia, and after the war has taken its terrible toll Russia will be the mighty Power, having learnt the most scientific warfare during the present war, and we will thank our lucky stars that we made a powerful understanding with a nation of about 200,000,000 people that occupies one-sixth of the land surface of the world; a nation that is the most peace-loving nation on the *--• ** the globe; which has the purest

religion (the Creek religion i, and which endeavored to conquer .lie Turk and capture Constantinople to stop the massacre of the Christians (of the Greek Church) in days gone by, and which will now avenge the massacre of those Christians. I cannot see how it is possible for the Allies to lose the war if general compulsion is passed and all the resources of the Allies are trained to destroy the enemy. The domination of the sea enabled the Allied Powers to gain wealth to be able to carry on this war, but we must not forget that at the present time Germany is almost a self-contained empire owing to the newly-acquired territory since the war started, and on this account the rumors ot shortage of munitions, food, money, etc., must be proportionately discounted, and, instead of think the war is going to end in a few months' time, everyone must do his best for liberty, justice and freedom, which the British Hag stands for.