RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

KEftENSiCY CONFIDENT.

PRESENT TROUBLES WILL BE SURMOUNTED.

Beutcr Service. Received Any. 15. S.HO p.ni,

Petrcgrad, Aug. 14. M. Kcrensky, replying to the King's menage, f.tates: "I am certain the Russian people will find the necessary Gtiength to surmount the grave trials of the pre-rnt time and conduct the var to in end worthy of the terrible sacrifices made by every nation struggling for light gainst might."

RUSSIA'S BLACKEST HOUR.

GUNS A.SD EQUIPMENT SWEPT AWAV l.\ IIuUT.

'Loudon, August 1. The bad news pours in from Russia. An unfortunate feature of the retreat is the large proportion of heavy guns captured, and the loss of the re-equip-uenU which had been labcriously provided by Great Britain, I'raneu and ("Timss"), t«l*grapking from i.! le.%aii, that tie oiiuution Is inont critical. Tha view expr#ss«d !n various quarters i. that only a military dictatorship can nave the country. Utopian theories must be defwrrsd until better times. If the Carman »wfcris« sontinue there will bs no Russia to r»fonu. Grrumnv chowe the critical moment, when the agents of the Vaxima!ist- Mere most powerful, for the dealing of this terrible blow. The army had been ilenuu'iili-ed by insidious flight without the slightest pressure frsin the tuemv.

Tho evacuation of positions without lesUtanec, and th'.* neglo:-t of elementary duties. : how how (he poi.yjn had worked. Fugitives from their posts left their comrades to their fates at the most critical moments. Instead of being an army, they are an armed rabble. Free Russia is facing a etupendous danger. A military L-orruspondsut at OdeskyLisfok states; that the catastrophe at Tarr.opol was not the result of fining but of pusillanimity, cowardice, ignorance ami criminality. The fugitives i'bandonej positions in conformity with high-*"unding precepts which had poitheir minds.

POISON FROil GERMANY. The Times correspondent at Potrograd (Mr Wilton) is equally pessimistic. Cabling on July 2", he saiJ: "XJi« Guards Corps and three divisions abandoned the Turinipol district unnecesaarily. The slightest eli'ort would have reversed the situation." The loss of moral, uuuii .s widespread. ths correspondent traces to tho notorious "Ordar No. 1" that was issued by tki German agents who are members of the Soldel, b'iiind the back <;f the majority. Although efforts wei'e made to suppress and cancel it, the astute men who vera i,.r its i.ssue had already disseminated it throughout the front and rt-ar. Tin- idea of passive disobedience then propagated has since stsadily Kacimtly outward appearances were reassuring, but an army which has thrown away discipline cannot resum# It iv.a<!ily. Directly the troops thus shaken in moral were "all.-J to face the dangers of an advance, in which tie line it*ell iuu»t < (fir sacrifice, the poison of the propaganda came iuto effect

THE WRONG WAY WITH MOBS. Petrograd to-day is calm, the rioters having cowed. Many workers and member* of the Rtd Guard have been disarmed, and iuu „inous troops have been disbanded. Experience has proved that a mob cannot be dealt with on lines of persuasion along; the policy, "jfou have been a naughty iboy, now run away and be pood." Therefore the Government hus decided terribly to punish rioters. To-day's situation is anarchistic, in V| *' '' ' fori** Vif reaction, anarchy, and German agents are trying to bring iii.ci j winter-revolution. The Minister or Justice to-day intimated that he possessed documents clearly proving that i-euia aud others wsra coimectea with a German [dot against Russia. Shootings at the front and in the interior continued on a largo scale, and conflicts between the Moderates and the panicky Extremists are causing very heavy loss of life. KEREN SKY TEE WHIRLWIND. Mr, Alexander ■ Thompson, cabling to The Mail on Friday, describes M. Iter-r-iwkv's firjt days of (lictut jrship:— "He carno perturbed to Petrograd and, luce a whirlwind, swept out the disturbing dementis. He scrapped the dillydallying, faint-hearts of shilly-shallying packed the military idlers to the front or to shrmeful 'reticumcnt home, where their kindred will them. By a show of real soldiers in the street* he restored the capital without bloodshed to calm. To-day h_■ issued an :>lt:m!it>nM to the rebellions erews at Kimstadt demanding ii;-.!;;i;t surrender of the mutinou oaders, unuer penalfv of blotkitdo. He has ettabliiAod numerous couiW-martial, and eompjlL-.l th» ias jL-ji'dmato IhUtie fleet to lower the r»bellicui ttaj which the luutbvu* had rained on the former Tmporial yacht." As Brussiloii' c*js: lv.reusky is a man gifted with the Divine spark." Brusilolf points out that there has been little patriotism in Rusaia. She has cultivated everything German far thre® centuries. Even tho Court was German. Only a Kercnsky has been ablo to kind In th« ilame. THE SPECTRE OF FAMINE. Already famine stalks across the land. Peasants in the north are committing suicide and killing their children to avoid the pangs o! hunger. A terrible winter, with un industrial and financial crisis, is certain, even if {.he military and poLtical situations improve. The effect on the Allied position is serious, but not

I'larmiii" V r-irici- has recovered froiuher wave of depression, and '.s optimistic about American onersy. whilst the British Army inmerturbabl', continues its oxhaustivo preparations for the uaxt offensive.

Despite the lo.nj days submarina wari';um loniaim iuiia&isivu. Thti kisses tire and cause )iar<Uhip, but they are not blunting the Allies' sword. The (.ieruian efforts on the Aisne are proof that the Kaiser, Himlenbnrg and eornpany are aware of the failure of the submarines. Otherwise why do they allow the slaughter of tlutir rasaives?