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Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1918, Page 4

Trotsky will have displayed faultless wisdom throughout. When the immortal Mr. Stiggins attended . n temperance meeting in a state of intoxication he discovered that the chairman, the audience, and finally the whole world, were drunk. And we may rely upon it that Lenin and Trotsky, as they survey the foolish world around them, jire convinced in the same spirit that they are the only soher persons in it. While the news of the Bolshevik collapse is not surprising, it is certainly exasperating. There is ope point in this sorry business that must not lie overlooked, namely, Germany is perfectly Well aware that the Bolsheviks do not represent Russia, and that any treaty made hy them is of value o.ily so long as they manage to hold on to power, and in the light of their complete failure to uphold the interests of Russia it should be only a very short time before they are driven into obscurity. Meanwhile they have robbed (Russia of the power to stand upright, and at the same time have exasperated the Germans, thus giving the enemy a valid ovcuse for imposing terms that will leave Russia with only the shadow of her former greatness, These terms are published elsewhere in this issue, and will doubtless be read with considerable interest. They indicate all too clearly that the Germans have a grip on Russia so firm and forceful that unless Germany is completely defeated by the Allies she will squeeze the very life blood out of Russia and fatten on this vampirage. It will be noticed that in the peace terms published to-day there is no mention of any indemnity, but a cable on Wednesday last contained a statement by Trotsky of the enemy's terms, which, after providing for the retention by Germany of Poland, Lithuania, Riga, and Moon Island, stipulated for a 'payment of four billion dollars, though possibly roubles may have been meant. Assuming it is the Trench billion (a thousand millions) that is intended, then Russia would have to find forty million sterling- How? That remains to foe seen, for were the 80lBheviks to attempt to raise that sum their doom would be sealed. The ludicrous efforts of Lenin and Trotsky to resuscitate the remnants of the more than half demobilised army show how completely Russia is at the mercy of the Teutons, for the degenerate rabble have no fighting spirit left, having been intoxicated bv the orgio of anarchy and brigandage. There is nothing but misery and starvation staring them in the face. The navy is as rotten as the arinv, and is helpless to even lessen the bitter humiliation under which the country is suffering through the madness of its so-called Government. It is interesting to note that, according to the French newspaper Le Matin, under the new cutting up process Petrograd is shown as belonging to Finland, thus driving Russia back to the Muscovite steppes- Only one source of salvation is possible—Germany's defeat by Russia's late allies, though national disillusionment will give the saner elements of the nation an opportunity to reorganise, and so take advantage of the earliest opportunity to throw off the German grip and enter on the path of freedom.