The Daily News. THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1918. RUSSIA'S FATEFUL HOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1918. RUSSIA'S FATEFUL HOUR.

We have only to take stock oE Russia's critical position in order to fully realise the strength and depth of that insistent cry to the Allies '' Come over and help us." It is patent to even the meanest intellect that the Brest Litovsk treaty was merely a lever in German hands for breaking up and dominating Russia. The facts speak for themselves. To-day the Germans dominate in Finland, the Baltic provinces, Lithuania, Poland, the Ukraine, the Crimea, the Baltic and the Black Sea, while their troops have penetrated as far East as Rostoff on the Don. The Russians have been gripped by the throat and unless aid is forthcoming Russia will succumb. Besides this, Turkey is being utilised by the Gentians to play havoc tn Transcaucasia, and violent attempts have been made to cut the line of communications at Baku, along the Caspian coast, in the region of the rich oilfield, as well as advancing into Persia, This means that a road is being opened up for Germany in Central Asia to the ramparts of India. There are certain definite and well understood aims of Germany in the East, but there are doubtless others which will, if opportunity favors, be disclosed hereafter, yet one fact stands out above all othm and that is Germany's intention to dominate Russia, so that it quite suits her purpose to lead Finland, the Ukraine and other portions to believe that they will become independent, but none the less would they become German vassals, as will the whole of Russia unless aid is rendered. The question has been asked many times: Why should the Allies assist Russia? There are several] reasons, one of which is that they cannot afford to have Germany's strength enhanced by the command of large Russian forces, for if Germany succeeds in her efforts to dom* mate Rossia, die will most assuredly create a vast army of

Another reason is that Eussia has been, and is even now, at heart ouv ally. The Bolsheviks are not Russia, nor do they represent the mass of the Russian people. Exactly what they are, and what was their aim has already been demonstrated. They sold their country to the enemy and now their power is vanishing, but their capacity .for further mischief will remain. At present the Russian people have only a choice of evils—either to see their country become a permanent prey to starvation, pestilence and the in ad tyranny of the Bolsheviks, or 1o submit to German rule. But, it lv.ay be asked, why do they not rely upon the Allies instead of the Germans? The answer is simple. The Germans have made their power felt, while the Allies are mostly only an almost unknown quantity. The Russian people have no love for Germany—far from it—yet they are longing for freedom and a government that will .assist them to lvork out their destiny on democratic lines as a free nation. It is only the Allies who can give them that boon, and they only know the Allies by name. They know what they want, yet not how to obtain it. The Allies are fighting for just those essentials of which the Russians are so sadly in need. In view of this, also of the fact that the Russians fought on the side of the Allies, there would seem to be a plain duty on the part of the Allies to help the Russians and preserve them from the fate which stares them in the face. Allied intervention has become not only a necessity, but an imperative duty. They should show the Russians that their cause is that for which the Allies are contending, and though the more intelligent portion of the Russian community is urging this intervention, the appeal would become general if only the Allies presence could be tangibly felt. But how? Japan is the one Power that could readily and promptly come to Russia's aid. At first there might be suspicion and possibly mistrust, but this can be overcome and the mass of Russians, under proper tutelage, will soon welcome their deliverers with enthusiasm. We cannot permit Germany to dominate Russia and the cause of freedom and humanity demands that the Allies should act, and do so promptly The interests of the Allies are inextricably .interwoven, so that the fate of Russia cannot be a matter of indifference.