The Daily News. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1917. THE RUSSIAN TANGLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1917. THE RUSSIAN TANGLE.

The situation in Russia appears to be so confused that it is impossible to form any intelligent idea as to what is really transpiring. The outstanding feature is a chaos in which various parties arc scheming for power, and, though the Bolsheviks are said to have secured half of the total votes cast at the elections to the Constituent Assembly, it is also stated that only two out of fifteen armies support the rebel commander-in-chief (Krylenko). In all revolutions it is the army which is the deciding factor but in the ease of Russia it is extremely difficult to forecast what the ultimate attitude of the army may be. According to the ' jst cable messages, Krylenko has issued an order for the troops to fraternise, and he bases bis hopes of a speedy peace on the assertion that the army is starving, is without boots and clothes, and that horses are dying, so that there is no transport service. That Btate of affairs, however, may only be the result of a cunning policy to induce the soldiers to lay down their arms. Russia is without any recognised Government, for, jhough it suits the plans of the Germans to parley with the extremists over the question of peace, they are quite as much alive to the fact, as the Allies are, that no responsible Government exists, and therefore Russia cannot be bound by the acta of a section of rebel fanatics, with whom the Allied Embassies refuse to hold communication. It is also significant that Krylenko, when attempting to address the troops, met with a hostile reception, being ridiculed and attacked. All that Germany wants is that her troops may be released from the east to cope with grave dangers in the west, but so long as there are Russian armies loyal to the country Germany dare not p run any risk, No one can tell what the

accident of a moment may bring forth, nor can the endless rumors be Bifted out so as to throw a light on the real position. The whole country is seething with unrest, for the simple reason that there is no head, and the people are touch in the position of a flock of sheep at the mercy of wild dogs. Salvation can only come throjgh the restoration of order ly the help of the army. But who is to lead the army? There are patriots of ability who could take the lead, hut amid such infinite scheming and plotting it is not surprising that even the most capable and daring of Russia's military commanders should shrink from the task. The heads of the British mission to the Russian headquarters, supported by French, Italian, Roumanian and Japanese colleagues, have entered an energetic protest against the conclusion of a separate peace, and have pointed out that Russia must be prepared for most serious consequences should such a step be taken, but they are powerless to intervene. It is a truly deplorable situation when a section of rabid pacifists shut their eyes to the ruination of their country, because they have not the heart to fight for its preservation. Although a solution of the problem is not apparent, one should certainly be found sooner or later, but time presses, and the chaos grows worse instead of better. Autocracy has been dethroned, but if a separate peace is made, it will rear its bond higher than ever, and the hist state of

Eussiii will be infinitely worse than formerly. Germany's interests lie in a concordant autocracy in Kussia, but tiie interests of the people arc centred in a great democracy that will help to rid the world of its greatest evil. It is this fact which overshadows all others in its importance in the present groat struggle that is raging between the world's democracies and the remaining relies of military autocracies. Japan is greatly interested in the solution of the problem, and it would seem that some concerted effort should be made to counteract German intrigues by prevailing on the loyal element in Russia to make a supreme effort to restore order, and bring about a Government that can and will deal with the situation in a wise and resol•ute manner.