The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13. THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13. THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

The late news from Petrograd cannot fail to arouse a feeling of anxiety. Russia is apparently seething with plots, conspiracies, conflicting authorities and a general disinclination for anything but trouble, and in spite of all this turmoil, plus the fall of Riga, the Russian Envoy in London and the British Premier recently spoke optimistically of the situation. Now l has come a far more serious complication in the dismissal of General Korniloff from his command on the ground of treachery, his refusal to resign, and the first step taken towards a civil war by marching troops on Petrograd. It hardly seems possible for the country to be in a worse plight than at present, but it is very, probable that the worst is not known, for there is a grave suspicion that a rigid censorship may have been instituted and that only such news as the Government thinks fit is avowed to filter through We have also to bear in mind that the intense rivalry now existing between the various committees who are bent on running the affairs of the country according to their different ideas, has a teudency to represent matters in a light to suit their own ends. The proclamation issued by M. Kerensky concerning tho dismissal of General Korniloff has all the appearances of forcing a crisis, although its terms suggest patriotic motives. The fact that Korniloff has a considerable backing adds to the gravity of the situation and it is impossibly to accurately judge how the matter will end, for when it comes to a divided authority in the army tho worst may be feared. It is clear that certain members of tho Council of Workmen and Soldiers' delegates liavo been endeavoring to use the fall of Riga as a lever for getting rid of General Korniloff, who has openly avowed that the army must be freed from interference by those delegates, and thus aroused their hostility on account of the fear of the appointment of a military dictator. According to recent cables the delegates are proclaiming that Riga was lost by treachery, but those who have studied Russian affairs will probably consider that this serious accusation has been put forward to obscure the fact that jiving lost this town through their own criminal folly the delegates are prepared to lay the blame on any but themselves. Color is lent to this theory by the action of the Cossacks; 'who have come forward in the laudable desire to heal the 'broach between the Government and General Korniloff in order to save a civil war, which would certainly result in Russia becoming a vassal state of Germany. Mention has been made of a military dictator, but that is an extreme and undesirable remedy that should only be applied as a last resource. It would seem, however, that General Korniloff is bent on gaining supremacy, and there is no telling what the accident of a moment may bring forth. In view of the Extremists having scored so heavily at the municipal elections it would seem that some drastic course is inevitable, but no efforts should be spared to bring about, if possible, a loyal co-operation between tho military and civilians to overcome the invaders. In this connection it is worthy of note that there is a Commissioner to the Commander on the northern front. Apparently this personage is a species of civil supervisor to I watch the interests of the Soldiers' and Workmen's organisation. It is easy to

perceive that much mischief could be worked by such an emissary. Certainly he would be useless as a military factor, for General Letchitsky is one of the most able of all the Russian commanders. So far as the war operations are concerned the Russians are continuously in retreat, although late news is to the effect that the German advance is slowing down. It was not to he expected that the rapidity of the enemy advance to the River Aa, which i& twenty-one miles to the north of Riga, could be maintained. The speed of this advance .as evidently due to complete preparations and the absence of any appreciable resistance, the further the enemy leaves his base behind the slower must be his progress* We are led to believe that the Russian retreat is orderly and conducted on sound lines, and just ai} the Germans were in time stopped in Galicia so may the r y be brought to a stand in the Riga sector, always provided that the Russians can be rallied and infused with the imperative need for putting forth their strength to save their country. By shortening the front to a new line from Freidrichstadt to a point on the coast half way. between Riga and Venden a smaller salient will be obtained, but it is very doubtful whether such a line could now be held, Hindenburg's intention being apparently to turn the whole of the lino of the Dvina. The Germans have another string to their bow in operating by way of Finland, but- whether this will work remains to be seen. At- present attention is focussed on the Kerensky-Korniloff rupture, and until the question of army discipline is settled on satisfactory lines it is usoles.i to anticipate what will happen. The rumor of the murder of M. Kerensky fortunately lacks confirmation, but it none the less shows the gravity of the crisis. There is marked significance in the many rumors that are in circulation as to the safety or otherwise of Petrograd. • The crux of the position is, however, to be found in Russian troops. That Riga was lost by defection of the Russian soldiers seems beyond doubt. The situation can only be saved by stern measures and by rehabilitating tlio army's morale. If the latter can be accomplished in time, then Petrograd will be safe, but if the forces of anarchy prevail Russia's darkest hour will arrive, and who can tell how far reaching will be the effect of Russia's downfall?.

THE HOSPITAL. The members of the Hospital Board did the right tiling yesterday in what amounts to resigning individually. An effort was made by one member to patch up the differences between the board and the medical staff, but its futility was recognised by the other members, who took the only course that can lead to the retention of the medical staff and the maintenance of the efficiency of the hospital. The letter from the medical staff showed that they were intent upon carrying out their intention of resigning, and, incidentally, indicted the members for failing in their administrative duties. The tact that eight nurses have contracted infectious diseases through the lack of the necessary accommodation, attention to which had repeatedly been called in the past, is in itself sufficient evidence of the failure of the meters of the board to realise tho responsible nature of their duties, in view of the fact that tho health and comfort of the nurses is a prime necessity in hospital work. Despite this, the board risked a breakdown of the nursing staff by an unjustifiable postponement of the provision of satisfactory quarters for this zealous and hard-working staff. This work, which admitted of no delay, should have been carried out when the new hospital was built, and the board's procrastinating policy has naturally alienated confidence in its administrative capacity. Under such circumstances a crisis was bound to arise sooner or later, and the medical staff has only performed an obvious, though very unpleasant, duty in bringing matters to a head by resigning in a body, sooner than attempt to carry on their self-sacrificing labors in the face of the unsympathetic and unjust treatment meted out by the board. It wfis certainly time a change of administration occurred, and the members of the board have acted in the best interests of the institution by resigning, instead of depriving the hospital of the invaluable services of a medical staff. We trust when the new board is elected, it will be animated by a different spirit, and take immediate steps to rectify tho omissions of the late board, and strive, not to irritate a hard-working and eminently able Btaff, but to co-operate sympathetically with them in continuing to gain the successful results that have made the New (Plymouth Hospital known so favorably throughout the Dominion.