CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1917, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

RUSSIAN "INTELLECTUALS." The strangest people in the world are trying to seize the reins of power in Russia, says an English writer. They are known as the "Intelligenzia"—the Intellectuals—and it is from their ranks that most of the leaders of the revolution are recruited. It is impopsible to live for any time among Russians coming into contact with the Untelligenzia and they have made their mark on Russia's internal politics. Now for the first time their influence is •world-wide. The Russian peasantry is dumb, the middle classes arid bureaucracy are mute —for the times are too dangerous for them—the industrial workmen are clamouring for revolutionary action, and the Intelligenzia alone is articulate. A member of the Intelligenzia, Anatole Lamanoff by name, is playing the part of young Napoleon at Kronstadt; the workmen's councils arc run by the Intelligenzia; it is the Intelligenzia alone that is interested in abstract, questions of war aims and holding up fighting for the sake of discussion. A typical member of the Intelligenzia is 18 years old, but already he reads quite easily Russian, French, German, Latin, and Greek. He is studying law, and as a side line has taken up chemistry; he is abreaßt with the writers of the day on psychology and political economy; is steeped in revolutionary economics and political •theories. In short, a youthful encyclopedia of miscellaneous knowledge. Full of theories—what to do with religion, the best system of land tenuro, the advisability of dispensing with money, the right way to educate children, the influence of Bernard Shaw; to •be brief, every possible theory on every •conceivable subject, and not a pennyworth of common-sense. And now re< volution has given him and perhaps a piillion—maybe two millions—of his kind the lang-looked-for opportunity. What are they going to do with it?' Do they really mean'to put their theories to the test? Russia at heart is sound. Quite 105,000,000 Russians have not even the slightest idea what the Intelligenzia is talking about, but Russia is still inarticulate. At the present time the only talkers are those people, and as they are full of fine theories they are bound to have a big following. THE FRENCH ARMY. ■ Last month the United States Secretary of War received a most important communication from M. Andre Tardieu, High Commissioner in America of the French Republic. It related to the present military strength of France. Th letter was written because of the circulation of reports that France was already "bled white." The facts categorically stated by the High Commisioner will bring much encouragement to people in New Zealand as well as to the people of the United States. If they be true (and We have no reason to doubt their accuracy) they tell a tale of wonderful staying power by our noble Ally of France. It appears that the French iirmy is stronger now than it 'was at the beginning of the war. "There are nearly 3,000,000 men in the French yarmy now at the front' which is over a million more than at the opening of •the war. Our reserve.? are sufficient to Maintain that number for a long time to come. Our strength in men, by ■reason of a better command and of better methods of instruction, is shown in the constantly-decreasing casualties." The percentages of casualties in proportion to the mobilised strength of the army are given as follow:-*

Battles of Charleroi and the Marne 5.41 per cent. First six months of 1915 2.3!) per cent. Second six months of 15115 1.08. per cent. First six months of 1916 1.47 per cent. Second six months of 1910 1.28 per cent. In the sphere of munitions the story is just as good. In August 1014, the French munition plants were equipped ,4o produce 13,000 shots of the "75's" a •day. The factories now produce at the •rate of 250,000 shots of "75's" and 100,,000 shots of heavy shells. France has also assisted recently to re-equip and rearm the Belgian, Serbian, and Greek armies. In August, 1914, the French army had 300 heavy guns; in June, 1917, it had 6,000 of the most modern type. The gallant French army is yet far from being "bled white." The blows that have been rained upon it seem only to have refreshed it. NEVER DESPAIR. Horatio Bottomley: "Knowing what I do, I am not going to venture on prophecy, but I say this—that if there were a dozen Russians and a dozen rifts in the dark clouds of Germany's despair, the end would be the same. That end may be delayed—the day of triumph has already been put back —but we are fighting for high stakes, and even if it were the British Empire against Prussianism, without a friend or an Ally, we should not falter or be afraid. We have stood alone before—our fathers knew what it was to • live through hours of danger, but • never of despair or doubt. Our national prowess is being tested, our sea supremacy challenged. Wei!, we can stand it all. But we shall not be called upon to endure much longer. It is a question who will break first — Britain or Germany. Can you doubt the answer? The enemy is breaking now—at this moment. His military power, great and splendidly organised —is dwindling. He is making a supreme effort in the West —not to ,' win through to the gaol of those vain hopes of 1914—Paris, Calais; but to »old us back. Watch and watt--"