The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1917. RUSSIA'S HARD TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1917. RUSSIA'S HARD TASK.

The collapse which has taken place in Russia's offensive movement cannot fail to arouse a feeling of pity for the Provisional Government in having to contend against terrible odds of a nature that must evoke the sympathy .pf the Allies. It was with the highest hopes of making a successful advance that the recent offensive was undertaken., but the Russian authorities have had to contend against a more subtle and farreaehing obstacle than enemy guns ami armed troops. It is the German gold that has done the mischief by buying off the lighting man power of Russia, as proved by arrested soldiers having their pnr-'--:-. bulging with money (presumably paper; by which German agents had turned t,he soldiers into traitors. The rioting and disobedience to orders still continue, and will do so indefinitely unless drastic means are adopted to deal with the betrayers of their country. The Workers' and Soldiers' Council now recognise this festering sore ivhich threatens the very existence of the country. It is probable that this ill-advised body is repenting of its folly in fostering trouble when the Provisional Government was formed, and it shows the danger of such men obtaining any sort of power, the proper use and meaning of which is entirely beyond their conception. Russia's ease is not hopeless, 'but it is certainly perilous, demanding prompt and effective measures to he applied to cope with her internal and external enemies. The causes of the present reverse are very clearly indicated in the Russian communiques. "The enemy ]iersistently attacked 20 miles south of Brody. At first all attacks ■were repulsed, but one regiment between •lfctyov and Manajov left their trenches voluntarily and retired. As a result neighboring units were forced to retire, and it also gave the enemy an opportunity to develop their .success. Our failure was largely due to the influence of extremists. Several detachments, on being ordered to support their comrades, held meetings and discussed the advisability of obeying the order. Some refused to obey, and the efforts of the commanders and committees to inliuence them were fruitless." The defection of a single regiment at a critical point and at a crisis of a battle is amply sufficient to cause the overthrow of an army. The result forms a grim commentary on the scheme of running an army in the field on the principle of one man one vote and one voice. It is evident that the discipline of the Russian army has not been as fully restored, by a long way, as the Petrograd messages had given us to understand. Apparently we must look to Iliiidenbmg to restore it. -Moreover, it is clear that Brusiloll has not yet succeeded in bringing up the ■Russian armies in the lield to their full strength. Russia has now to face her great task with a greatly reduced morale among her troops. If proof were needed of the demoralisation of the Russian armies in Galicia it is afforded by the extent and speed of the recent retreat, and above all by the loss of Tarnopol. This city, for the last two years, has been one of the most important buses o* the fiaooios »xwj, and its

i central pivot in tlalicia, so tliat its loss will strike a great .blow at the. Russian I plans for further operations in that dis- ] iriet. The eonscMiieu.-cs of till; Ausltoj German successes! will nou only be felt 'on the military situation, but will put ■ ii:i.i.k the time oi Russian freedom. Tlie ] enemy lias the advantage of a comproi iiensive system of railways, ou- : aiding him to concentrate at any given ; point, while it .will take the Russian | commander considerable lime to got ade- | iiiiate reinforcements to the spot. The | greatest enemy, however, is Jo be found within, and until order and authority are restored it will be hopeless to expect a 'betterment of the situation. Though the Russians are bound to lose ground, there is no need to be unduly anxious about the consequences. Hindenburg might advance for hundreds of miles in his present direction without seriously harming Russia or seriously modifying the strategical situation. With every forward step his advantage in the matter of communications will become less, .while natural obstacles will multiply on his path, along which it will ■he possible to hold him as reinforcements arrive. Ju fact, the ultimate reaction upon the military position of Russia's present reverses may 'be highly beneficial, by stimulating her politicians and people to action and by producing unity. This view is completely justified by a recent cablegram which, after referring to the sordid treachery of the deserters, expresses the belief that these reverses may provo a blessing in disguise. Apparently .Russia has exchanged royal treachery for one that is barmful to a greater degree, but out of all this sea of evil there may result a real regeneration which will bo the foundation on which future greatness can be built. The Black Sea fleet remains loyal to the Government, but the Baltic fleet, 'which contains a large proportion of disloyalists, is disorganised. Both the Premier and the Soldiers' and Workers' Council have addressed stirring appeals to the armies to save the Fatherland, and not imperil the work of the revolution. The urgent need is for a Government of suflicient strength, determination and courage to deal with disaffection firmly and drastically by treating disloyalty as an act of treason. To waste further time on conciliatory measures would be an act of criminal folly. Nothing will meet the present trouble except the establishment of martial law, for unless extreme measures are adopted the revolution will he undono and the Germans will rule with a rod that .will smite heavily and oppressively. It is in times of danger that even cowards draw together for mutual protection, and it is to be hoped that the sword which is hangrng over Russia will cause the people to unite against a common foe so that they may reap the full fruits of their new born freedom.