The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1918. THE OUTLOOK IN RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1918. THE OUTLOOK IN RUSSIA.

It is extremely difficult to arrive at the true state of affairs in Russia, owing to the unreliability of the cabled messages and the impossibility of distinguishing between tainted Bolshevik messages and those from other sources. There appears, however, to be acceptable evidence that the power of the Bolsheviks is rapidly waning. Whether Lenin is still alive or not is uncertain, but the fact that a determined attempt on his life was made may be taken as an! indication that the forces of antiBolshevism are at work, and that the days of that anarchistic regime are numbered. In discussing Russian internal affairs it is always advisable to keep in view the fact that the people have .for centuries been governed with a rod of iron. They have never had to trouble themselves with any thoughts of governmental problems—merely to obey the will of an autocratic ruler. ' They have been kept under the whip, and learned the severe lesson of submission, so that when at last they became free from tyranny the pent-up forces of license to do as they pleased impelled them to run riot and flout all law, order and authority. It is easy to understand how such a mass of ignorant people became the followers of such men as Lenin and Trotsky, whose oratorical powers were used to sway the multitude by promises of future bliss and plenty of this world's goods by spoiling the upper classes and confiscating their property. What Russia and still needs—was a strong, straightforward, reliable leader—a man of action who would be a combination of tie-stern dictator-

and the true democratic statesman. On suck a leader the people could have leaned safely, instead of drifting into chaotic anarchy and Woodshed by following men of words like the Bolshevik leaders, Possibly it was needful that they should pass through the terrible experience of trusting to traitors and time servers, and that •their great country should be hum'bled in the dust. They now know what a heavy price has to be paid for selling the country to the enemy. Their illusions have been dissolved, and they have found that hopelessly incompetent rulers plunged the country into a seething mass of rebellion, with the result that there is everywhere evident a strong desire on the part of the people to lean for protection on any force strong enough to defend them against domestic and foreign tyranny. Some light has recently been thrown on the course of events by Mr. Shaplen, a United Press Association correspondent, Who has just returned to America after witnessing for the last 12 months the dramatic changes that have taken place. He fully confirms the decadence of Bolshevism and its imminent fall, and inclines to the belief that the Revolutionary Democrats will be able to resettle the country on definite political lines. He is even sanguine that by next year they may succeed not only in setting up some stable form of government in Russia, but in organising effective resistance to the Germans. "Why he is so optimistic does not clearly appear, but there has undoubtedly been a change of late, as evidenced by reaction against Bolshevism, and probably only those on the spot can actually tell the nature and extent of that change. To all appearances there is a growing movement in favor of putting an end to Bolshevik misrule, and to that reason may be ascribed the amazing success of the Czechoslovaks—a mere handful of aliens among millions of Russians—who now represent, with the aid of the Allies, safety for the people agamst the internal forces of lawlessness and disorder, as well as •gainst the German invaders. Since the landing of the Allies in northern Russia there has been a marked change in the outlook, for apart from their presence and the operations of the Czeeho-Slovaks another strong military factor is present in the shape of the relies o± the old Russian armies, still organised and led by generals like Alexieff, Ewerts, Korniloff and Russky. In addition there are the Japanese forces, advancing through eastern Siberia, pointing to the fact that the salvation of Russia can only be accomplished by military means. The first and most pressing business is to counteract German operations, and to deieat their projects in Russia. I his can only be effected by driving the Teutonic enemy out of the country. Once free of this menace there should be no difficulty in stamping out Bolshevism and giving the people a stable government, but before that can happen there is much to be done. A commencement has been made, and it should not be long before the mass ol the people realise that it is to their interest to render assistance to those who are striving to liberSi