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The Daily News. SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1918. RUSSIA'S OBLITERATION.

The more the downfall of Russia is studied the greater becomes the mystery that such a bitter humiliation should have been brought about as the result of a revolution that gave promise of opening up an era of freedom and prosperity for a nation that was classed as one of the great powers of the world. It seems almost to defy human conception that a country possessing a total area'of. 8,047,657 square miles, and containing a population of about 185,000,000 souls, with an army, the war strength of which was estimated at about seven millions, should collapse so ignominiously as events have proved, to be the case. In November last, a Sussian newspaper, wrote: "We are being led towards our Calvary, but perhaps we shall find our Resurrection as m 1812.", To-day Russia -is steeped in still further depths of darkness. She is like a dead fish floating down the stream, derived of all, power and regarded as of no account. Twelve months of revolutionary chaos finds Russia without any real* Government, the country a mass of seething uproar and strife, the enemy in possession, and nothing but a future of vassaldom in prospect. The one act they can claim as a set off against this year of turmoil, bloodshed and brigandage, is the dethronement of autocracy, but Russia nas not only got rid of an autocrat, she lias now signed away a large slice of territory, and the irony of it Ss'thnt the policy of no annexations and no indemnities was the basis of her peace advocacy. R ussla abandons all terri tory west of a line formed by the river Narva, only 80 miles west of Petro grad and Lakes P e i pus and Pskov Thence the new frontier line is to run south-west *V Lake Luban towards the town of Lirenhof, on the D W i„ a , about one-third of the distance from j acob . stadt to Dvinsk. Where the frontier line ig to run south of this is not yet made clear, but it will probablv follow the Dwino to Dvinsk, and may thence run via Vilna to Brest-Litovsk,' or even to Finsk. South of the Pripet the whole country becomes independent under the name of Ukrainia. Finland is to be independent; Poland is to go; and in the Caucasus the fruits of a century of war and work are to be given up to Turkey, the latter country apparently gaining all the territory as far as the Caucasian Mountains. Besides the loss of this territory there will be a heavy indemnity (possibly called by some other name) and under one pretence or another the German army of occupation will remain and woe to the towns in which they are located. I n their mad headlong plunge into the depths of anarchy the Russian Communists (the new name for the Bolsheviks) Im-e dismembered the country and almost, if not quite, exhausted the patience of her Allies; certainly they have gone suflicientry far to make the Allies weary of the prolonged and persistent policy of national suicide. Probably the majority of the peasants had not the faintest idea as to why or for what they were fighting in the war against Germany and that is the reason they hailed the abolition of the monarchy as the signal for a cessation of warfare and for gaining money and land instead. The wretch ed attempts at Government made by the Communists are as nothing compared with their cowardice and callousness i,. signing terms of peace that will be ■,' and'",! !T tiraMy t0 Bh *»*l«*» eM and to R, lssia ' 8 humiliation. , t " '' aS forfeitec * its self-respect, can I * content to abide *,«*£,«»'

those imposed liy the Germans, but they have this consolation of knowing that in the eyes of Germany a treaty is only a scrap of paper to lie destroyed at the first convenient opportunity. Meanwhile, Russia can hardly expect eitliej sympathy or help from the Allies, who, however, will be justified in taking all measures that may be. deemed necessary to protect their interest? —directly and indirectly. It is interesting to note the German press comments on tlie Russian situation. According to the Vorwarts, "Russia ends the war unreconciled, another policy of patriotic revanche, once it gets a lead, will find an easy Tame to play." There should be no difficulty in getting the lead, but sometliing far more important than a lead is required—a reorganised and determined nation. The question of the hour is the part which Japan is to play. One point seems very clear and that ia Japan is far too wise and practical to carry derelict Russia on her shoulders just for amusement, especially when the senseless Communists are hailing her as an onemy rather than as a friend in need. M Japan—as she, most probably will—protects Siberia from the enemy, she will certainly be entitled to compensation. In dealing with Russia as at present constituted the Allies, including Japan, will only be acting within reason by setting aside all sentiment and pursuing business methods. Russia has placed all friendly methods out of Court, but unless she shows a disposition to be guided, her fate must be upon her own head. The occupation of Siberia by Japan should be passively welcomed by the authorities. Russia's helplessness, if properly utilised, uuiy yet prove her salvation, and Japan is the right Power to help the Russians to regain their feet as soon nu sanity has •been restored. It is quite possible to rehabilitate this unfortunate and illgoverned country, hut the price must be paid and it is to the interests of both Russia and the Allies to make a business of the transaction. Meanwhile Russia is obliterated and cannot reasonably exoect that the Allies should worry themselve3 unnecessarily over her self suicide.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19180316.2.15

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1918, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
976

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1918. RUSSIA'S OBLITERATION. Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1918. RUSSIA'S OBLITERATION. Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1918, Page 4

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