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Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1917, Page 4

ACTIVE HELP BY 'JAPAN. The, statement in the cable news that Japan proposes to send armies immediately to the Russian front originates in, America, a source that is not always reliable but there is reason to believe that this interesting piece of information may be well grounded. In the House of Commons on Friday last, Lord Robert Cecil (Minister of Blockade), in referring to the part played in the war by Japan, inado a rather significant remark. "These activities (Japanese naval activities) are of additional value as indicating tlic assistance we might expect in the future." With the German navy bottled up, and the submarine campaign well in hand, it is plain that further naval assistance is not required, so the Minister's remark must have bad relation to some other form of help. The weakest link in the Allies' chain that has been forged to crush the enemy is undoubtedly Russia, and it is there that Japanese help would be most effective. Japan has always been willing to 'help with her armies, bub the difficulties of shipping prevented the employment of any considerable force elsewhere, whilst wo know now that it was never the desire of the treacherous reactionaries in Russia to facilitate anything that would lead to the defeat of Germany, and so the help of Japanese armies was not sought. At the same time Japan rendered Russia considerable help in the way of munitions. In 1015 she furnished war material to the value of twenty .million sterling, and even this great output, was largely exceeded in 11)18. Last year, when Brusiloff made his great drive against the A.ustrians, the heavy artillery was supplied by Japan. The Russians require just the stiffening the up-to-date and resourceful Japs could giva Half-a-million of her well-trained forces would do for Russia what the German leaven did for Austria, and probably turn the scale in favor of the Allies. Unless pressure is exerted from the Russian side there is no hope of the Allies breaking through on the West this year. The enemy recently adopted conciliatory methods on the Russian front, so that he could withdraw men for service against the AngloFrench and Italians. His reserves are almost exhausted, and it is now that a "big punch" would bo effective. The Japanese are capable of delivering the enemy a severo blow, and assisting the Anglo-French in driving him back beyond the Rhine. There should be no sentimental objection to employing the Jap on European soil. He is an infinitely (letter man than the German; indeed, to compare 'him in any way with the despicable Hun is paying hiin little compliment. He is a great and honorablo fighter, as his records in past years testify, and he would be of immense service to the Allies at the present moment, when Russia is weakening and when so much is at stake on the other fronts. His presence would spur the Russians 1 on to greater efforts and imbue them with the desire to achieve victory

at all costs, anil thereby help in saving I'ivilisiiLinn from tbo greatest danger to which it has ever been exposed.