THE OTAGO DIALY TIMES MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1917. RUSSIAN INDECISION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17033, 18 June 1917, Page 4

THE OTAGO DIALY TIMES MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1917. RUSSIAN INDECISION.

Tiieue can be no causo for surprise in the manifestation by the Entente Powers as a whole, of impatience over the Russian situation. It is apparently felt by them that a question which has been for many weeks uppermost in the minds of all the peoples allied to Russia in the war should, without further delay, be definitely answered one way or the other. How does Russia stand in relation to the prosecution of the war? The peace overtures which are now being made to her by Germany and the pointed inquiries which are being addressed to her by her allies must, between them, force her to a decision. It is certainly time that she made up her mind in one direction or another.For three months, since the occurrence of the revolution, she has seemed to be infirm of purpose, incapable of decision, and her own paralysis has been impeding the progress of her allies. They have every right to know what course a Power from which they have had definite pledges, and to which they have lent important military assistance, is going to pursue., Russia lias still the I opportunity to crown her military campaign with results that will compensate | for all her sacrifices. On the other hand she may hopelessly compromise her national reputation by continuing to pursue a course which is, as at present, distinctly to the advantage of Germany, or she .may barter away her future by patching up with the enemy a peace that would leave her eventually in the power of Germany. Separately the Allies, including the United States and Japan, have warned her of the consequences which may befall her if her inactivity continues or, worse still, if she is caught in the trap that, baited with an offer of peace, has been set for her by Germany. But they have failed apparently to awaken her from her Utopian and Socialistic dream-

The Entente Powers, being persuaded of the need of taking a more direct course, have now decided to make a joint effort to secure from Russia a definite statement as to the position she occupies towards them in relation to the war. Russia has had no difficulty in obtaining promptly from her allies explicit information as to their war aims. They have been at pains to assure her that these are not incompatible with her formula of " no annexation " and "no indemnities." President Wilson has powerfully demonstrated the absurdity of any Russian idea of a peace based on the " status quo ante bollum." Russia apparently approves of the war aims enunciated by President Wilson in his memorable address to Congress. Her allies also, for their part, broadly approve of the President's declaration, amplified and clarified as it has been in more recent speeches, and an understanding should be thereby facilitated. Russia, however, backs and fills and it has been implied, in effect, that she is not going to make further sacrifices for the benefit of Great Britain and France. The Russian Socialists affect to believe that the aims of these countries are Imperialistic. If by this it is suggested that they are anti-demo-cratic, the answer is that Great Britain and France, under different systems of government, are the most deinocratic countries in the world. Of the British democracy it was said recently in an American paper that it has grown more democratic than the democracy of the United States. But the war aims of the Allied Powers are not of cast-iron rigidity. A very plain indication has been given by Great Britain that she is prepared with her allies to examine and if necessary to revise.the agreement relating to their war aims. With that indication France and the other Allidd Powers are presumably in accord. And it might fairly be supposed that Russia should accept this as an earnest of 'a general readiness to consult her wishes and, as far as possible, to respect her susceptibilities as to the objects of the nations that are opposed to the Central Powers. France recently,' replying to a Russian Note, expressed her pleasure at being "in full community with the j Russian Government and people on the subject of the war." But the Russian mind seems particularly hard to convince at present, inoculated as it is with an obsession which is of German inspiration.

In certain Russian quarters, at all events, it is evident that the British and French declarations arc viewed with suspicion, as being vague, ambiguous, and unsatisfactory. In these circumstances the desire on the part of the Entente Powers to ascertain, for certain, whether Russia is prepared to march with them to the end is most natural and intelligible. The present uncertainty is not paralysing their efforts but it is highly disappointing, it is certainly prolonging the war as is shown by a statement by M. Painleve in the Chamber of Deputies to the effect that the French army is now awaiting the arrival of the Americans before actively offensive operations are resumed against the German troops released from the eastern front—and it must be embarrassing the Entente very considerably. The onus is upon Russia to say what she is going to do, what is to be lier future stand in the war whether she is going to fight or whether she is content to be the dupe of Germany. American journalists who have been studying the Russian situation at Petrograd seem impressed with the idea that Russia is capable of " coming back" with tremendous blows that would surprise the world. Her ability to do this has, however, never been questioned. What is doubtful, is whether there are not "dark forces" in the country that may prevent her from exerting her military strength on behalf of the cause to which she committed herself in 1914.

Thk French Socialist party which, through M. Renaudel, has proclaimed its adherence to the Russian suggestion that peace should be concluded on the basis of " no annexations and no indemnities " places an interpretation on that formula that is very different from that put upon it by the Majority Socialists in Germany.

Tho French Socialists, regarding Alsace and Lorraine as an integral part of Franco, claim tho restoration of those provinces. They also claim that reparation must be made for which tho Germans have wrought in the occupied territories. It seems probable that both claims aro consistent with the senso in which tho Council of /Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates in Russia framed its formula. The Majority Socialists in Germany, however, reject these claims unreservedly. A peace on the basis of "no annexations and no indemnities" would, from their standpoint, bo a peace that would certainly involve the restoi'ation of Belgium: and Serbia, but would in every other respect be a peace that would be entirely favourable to Germany. The colonies that have been "snatched" from her would have to bo given back to Germany; the reconstruction of the devastated territories would be a charge upon the countries which the German invader, ruthlessly and of malice aforethought, has laid waste; Alsace and Lorraine would remain in German hands; and, while Poland and Finland would be " liberated," Germany would not be required to make any reparation for the wrongs she has committed. If anything were required to disclose the source of inspiration of the German Majority Socialists it is supplied in the declaration that Ireland, Egypt, Tripoli, India, etc.— the "etc." is sufficiently comprehensive to embrace all the British Crown colonies— should be freed from foreign oppression!

As the Maiority Socialists in Germany have been identified practically throughout the whole course of the war with the aims of the military leaders of their country, the official statement, just issued by them, might be said Co indicate pretty clearly, even if there was not now other evidence on the point, the terms which Germany is prepared to make the basis of the peace overtures that have, it is stated with every show of authority, been addressed by her to Russia through the agency of Switzerland, an accommodating neutral. A peace on these terms would provide for no reparation by Germany for the crimes she has perpetrated in the course of the war. Similarly it would furnish no guarantees against a fresh outbreak of war whenever it suited Germany's purpose to renew her efforts to bring Europe under subjection to her. The danger of a peace that would establish tho "status in quo ante bellum," as a peace based on "no annexations and no indemnities" would do, is clearly apprehended by the great body of American Socialists. What such a peace would actually mean is shown plainly in a statement recently published by them: A return to tfic conditions existing before the war, it is evident, would mean that all Europe would .be helpless when confronted by the new Central Empire Germany has established. The German Socialists, like the Kaiser, even demand that _ the peace treaty shall restore the previous economic 'conditions, forbidding 1 all defensive economic union on the part of other nations. Germany's colonies would also be -restored, and England's self-governed colonies would everywhere be threatened, except in Canada. Russia would be m Germany's military and economic power, and Japan, though such a course may be far from hrr present aims, would) then be mightily tempted.

The success of the United States " Liberty" Loan of two billion dollars, subscriptions, for which closed on Friday last, and which is expected to be oversubscribed to the extent of a billion dollars, is not other than •was to have been anticipated. " Americans who subscribe to the Liberty Loan," said the New York Times when the loan was announced, "will be entitled to the distinction qf charter members in t'he alliance to make democracy safe." The wealth of the United States has been solidly behind' the Administration in the determination to make the loan a pronounced success. The lowest denomination in which Liberty Loam bonds are issued' is 50 dollars, this figure having been fixed in the desire that the response to the issue Should be as popular as possible. But a sum of 60 dollars is considerably higher Vhan the minimum subscription which may be made to a loan in Great Britain or in the British dominions, where the issue is so arranged as to enable persons in humble circumstances to make their personal investments in the war loans of their respective countries, and although there may have been a large number of investors of small sums in the Liberty Loan it is very likely that the bulk of the money has been, subscribed' by wealthv individuals and corporations. There were eight million subscribers in the recent "Victory" loan in Great Britain'—or about one subscriber in every sis of the papulation. To the fifth German loan there were about five million subscribers—or one subscriber ..in every twelve of the papulation. If the subscription to the Liberty Loan in the United States had been as widespread as those to ' latest German loan there would have been about eight million subscribers, and c loan had been as papular as the last British war loan there would have been about sixteen millioil subscribers. As it is estimated -that there> were actually some two million subscribers, it is evident that it is by the wealthy institutions of tihe country that the loan has to a large extent been taken up.

Landing to tlie Government is a business transaction of a kind to which people have to become accustomed, and in, which they have to be instructed, before they generally practise it. The people of Great Britain and' France have been educated to lend money to the State during the war eriod. The people of the United States have not .had the need of providing the sinews of war impressed upon them in the same way as have the people of the allied countries that have been bearing the heat /nd burden of the conflict. But the process of education is at work. It is instructive to gilance down the advertising columns of recent American papers to see in how many cases important companies and institutions have been purchasing space in which to offer their gratuitous services in placing subscriptions to the loan. Some of these advertisers supported the action of the Government by advancing cogent reasons—reasons with which, in the main, we are more or less familiar in this countrywhy Americans should make it their duty to advance money for war purposes. Thus, he Central Trust Company of New York counselled that the loan must be over-sub-

""'bed in order that the enemy might be thoroughly discouraged, and it reminded Americans that everv one of them was

responsible for the welfare of his country at this, the most critical time in its history." The National Rank ,r Commerce in New York quoted the dictum: of the Secretary of the Treasury :

' The greatest immediate service the American people can render in this war for universal liberty is to furnish the means for its vigorous prosecution." " Subscribe and thercbv register vour protest against lohenmLlernism" is one of several pleas

■'•n.'ed to the public bv a firm of stockbrokers, and- the National . City Company t kes the common note that " each man, woman, and child must bear a portion of the load" of war finance. The special taxation which is being introduced in the United States will. if nothing else will, make every individual in the country con-ti-ibuf* in some degree to the cost of the war.

Owing to the difficulty of securing the material necessary for carrying on repair work at Hillside, the Railway Department has found it necessary to dispense with the services of a number of men, the object being to rcduco tlic stall' in proportion to tho lalling oft' in tho amount o£ work. At tho end of last week nine men, who were taken on somo few months ago to cope witn. extra work over a temporary period, we.ro paid off, and it may be necessary to follow this course with some others in tho near future. The position i 3 stated to bo similar to that which oocurred at Addington tho other day, but an unfortunate feature in oonneotion with the matter is that a number of tho employees who aro thus thrown out of work aro married men.

On Saturday tho remains of 'I'roopor John Hamilton, son of tao late Mr SamueL llamncon, of liiocarton, in tho liiast laieri district, wero accorded, a milita<ry funeral. Deceased Jext Now Zealand witn tho iOtn Komlorcements, and alter five months' active service in Kgypt contracted lung trouble, and was invalided home to Now Zealand. He was a single man, 22 years of ago, and was educated at Riccarton and Cave-rsham. Shortly aitqr mid-day the' procession moved off from tho Kensington Driu nail, u'lier© services wero conducted by Chaplain-major Fairmaid, for Green island, where tne remains were interred, Ghapiain-major Fairmaid also conducting the services at the graveside. Major Fleming and a number ol returned soldiers went out to Green Island by train to attend the funeral.

Yesterday morning Plain-clothes' Constables i\.tiUy and M'CuHooh. arrested a. man on a charge ol petty ttie.it lrom> a boai'd»nghousc. D.o will appear 'baioro the Polioe Court this mornnig, and it ih possible that otiier charges oi a similar nature may be preferred against him.

A Press Association message from Waimato states that at a public meeting on Saturday the Mayoress (Mrs Ueo. DasuJ permanently resigned the presidency ol too L»ady Liverpool Ctomimttee. There lias been a good deai oi iriction lately owing, to the Md-yoress not falling .11 witn her committee, ana she had previously relused to consult tile members. The Mayoress called a pu-Dltc meeting on Saturday, but the meeting passed a resolution that the committee's standing be not interiered with, and that it be tliaulied for its past work

At the annual meeting of the Diocesan Conference of the Church of England's Men's Society at ht. Matthew'B Schoolroom on Friday evening, the question of early closing was discussed, and tne following moaou was caiTied unanimously:—"lltiat tne Diocesan Conference of the O.lilM.ti. ncartily support the movement for the closing ot licensed houses at 6 o'cloak for tne duration of the war and for six months thereafter." The proposal received the hearty support of prohibitionists and antiprohibitiomsts alike.

A member of tho reporting staff of the Otago m.ily 'limes, who left .New Zealand witu the Reinforcemonts, thus describes his meeting with, a former colleague on this journal, wiio went away with the Main Body of the Expeditionary Force:'—"Passing along the road besidie outr billet the ouiur day, whom should 1 spot but J aok B. — a little thjnner, a little taller, but in other respects fclie same Jack of the joytui countenance. He visited me that evening, and wo wassailed together, and held merry confabulation over oid times and all the foolish and wise and witty and tender things we had done and said, y«irs ago, back in Duneciin. Jack went right through Gallipoli, and .after tho evacuation he transferred to tho artillery in Egypt. However, he is now, I believe, on the books for a commission, and is calltid up at intervals to see the ooionel, who asks him questions to test his ability to hold a conunission and lead men— e.g., what his father was, and whether ho eats his fish with a knife, and things likr> that. Two years and a-half of soldiering have left Jack unspoiled, a very fine chap, and I should like to see him get something out of it."

Those -who attended at tho Gardens yesterday afternoon were furnished with a musical treat by the Kaikorai Band, under tho conductorsmp of Mr H. T. Davie. It was not alone that the programme was an admirable one, but the quality of the music was excellent, and the interpretation left nothing to be desired. Mr Davie has got his band splendidly in hand,' aid he lias invested their playing with charactor-tem-perament. The pacts are admirably balanced, and there is 110 assertiveness even when solo parts are >banig rendered. Every care has been taken with the body of the band —the horns, baritone, euphonium, and trorrifoonc-s, —and the tone throughout is excellent. Perhaps tho gem of tho afternoon was "Rock of Ages," in which tho devotional spirit was most marked. Another exceptionally attractive item was tho cornet duet, with band accompaniment, "Ida and Dot," which was first brought into popularity by the famous Besses o' thf Barn Band. In this number the audiences were treated to some very fine double and tnple tonguing by the solo and soprano cornets, while the band, playing beautifully together, provided a most effective modulated accompaniment. Selections from "Maritana" was another item that stood out for excellent all-round playing, while the solo work was admirable, tho tone and execution of the tenor horn and baritone being specially worthy of mention. Considering that the band has been s&dly depicted by the war, conductor and members alilco are to 'be congratulated upon their playing. A Press Association message from Wellington reports that the Journal of Labour, the official organ of the labour Department, has ceased publication, owing to the effect of the war on the cost of labour and materials.

On Saturday morning- tho City Fire Brigade received a call to the Newmarket Boardinghouse, where a chimney had taken fire. It was quickly put out, no damage being done. At Tapanui on Friday, before Mr H. A. Young-, 8.M., George Gordon, for failing to send liis children to the Spy law Valley School, was fined £3 19s 6d, costs and . fines. Robert M'Guckin, on a similar charge,-was fined £3 Is 6d. In connection with these cases two counter charges were laid by James Bird against the teacher for assault. Tho magistrate dismissed tho charges, with £4 4s costs against the informant. Mr J. .K Ryan appeared for the Education Board.

Giving evidence in a case in tho .Christchurch Magistrate's Court on Thursday (says the Press), Dr Hilgendorf, of Lincoln College, stated, to show tho difficulty of killing Oalitornian thistle with salt as an agent, that the we«l had undoubtedly been killed with this substance, but it had oost at the rate of £89 per acre. In experiments made at Lincoln College salt had been used to successfully kill Califorman thistle, but it had to bo used at the rate of 40 tons per acre. Salt would kill the weed, but it was not a practicable proposition to use it to any extent. A statement was made to tho Auckland Claims Board last week that some of the returned soldiers, before their departure from England, had been deprived of the private possessions that they had kept with their military kits. When leaving Codford camp they wore ordered to stack kits for inspection, and when tho kits were subsequently returned to them such articles as razors and collections of coins and personal presents that they had received were missing. It was stated that there were five or six men now in Auckland who could testify to similar treatment. The chairman of tho board (Mr V. J. Lamer) intends to collate any corroborative evidence that may be made available to him and submit tho grievance of the men to the' Minister of Defence.

It is stated now that butter has been withdrawn from store and sold in Now Zealand at Is 3d, remarks tho Mercantile Gazette, which adds: "If this bo so, then tho butter should bo retailed at Is 6d, instead of Is Bd. Even the lower prico is unwarranted by tho conditions. In Victoria, where there is a scarcity of butter, the price has been fixed at Is 5d per lb, and that ought to bo tho retail prico in New Zealand. Tho more prudent holders of butter will presently recognise that it is better to cut losses and get the best prico obtainable locally. The London market is dead for the present, and althought we aro promised an improvement in tonnage by tho end of next month, thevo is no guaranteo of fulfilment. If butter is placcd oil the markets hero at a reduced prico, tho consumption would readily increase, and that would help to reliovo tho congestion."

At 11.35 last night the City Fire Brigade received a oaJl to the residenc© of Mr JL. Page, in Queen street, whore a fire had ooourred in the woodwork underneath the hearth in one of the rooms. The outbreak, which did very littlo damage, was quickly extinguished by means of tho chemical apparatus. The house is insured in the New Zealand office for £400, and the furniture in tho Standard offioo for £200. Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., presided over a short sitting of the City Police Court on Saturday morning. A first offender for drunkenness was fined 20s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. Edward King, who liad been remanded a few days' previously on a charge of using obscene language, again appeared, and on Sub-inspector Mathieson stating that tho Medical Board had found him fit for active service, and that he was leaving for camp to-day, the magistrate convicted him and ordered him to com© up for sentence when called upon. At tho Port Chalmers Police Court on Saturday morning a prohibition order was issued against a local resident by Messrs J. Watson and N. Dodds, J.P.'s. Nicholas Romanoff, Esq., might still have been Czar of all the Russians had he been a man of sense. For instance, rose out of bed early in the morning and rode a glorious 8.5.A., a magnificent Harley, a vibrationlcss Douglas, or that work of art, a Junior Triumph. Send to us for a catalogue concerning those incomparable machines.—W. Stuart Wilson and Co., 290-292 i nnces street, Dunedin.—Advt. _^ e Women's Christian Temperance Union will hold a meeting in the No-license Rooms, Moray Place, to-morrow at 7.30 p.m. for those unable to attend an afternoon meeting. Mrs Perry man will give an address. We have received £1 from "Sport," Palmerston, for Dr Barnardo's Homes Fund. See the window display of shilling novelties at Molbsons. Hundreds of useful articles worth twice the money. Frederick street window. —Advt. . 36 ffood (?)" Don't be taken in with this old tarradiddle!. Insist on eettinir the genuine "No Rubbing" Laundry Help, and don t let worthless imitations be imposed on yon.- -A. Struthers and Co.. grocers.—Advt. Influenza take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Never fails. Is 6d, 2s 6d.— Advt. Watson's No. 10 » a littlo dearer than moat wmskiee, but is worth the trionev Advt. • * A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist bank of Axatralasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets 'nrxt Telegraph Offioe) Telephone 1863 — Advfc. Launch owners, motorists. «nd other#, don t have trouble Buy our Columnia Bo£ shot Batteries. We have a fin« assortment of Dry Batteries, Accumulatora. 7,amps, Holders, etc.. kr icnit.on ai.d lighting purposes.—TumbuJl and Josses \Limi<*d), eleo. tricnl angineere. Dunedin.—Ad^t Who is Peter Oioki - ..'he nyis* reliable A dtchmijsei, JewtUer, and Certificated Con. suiting Opticiar., 49-J Moray place (off Princet street), >'Dunedii> Cijarges moderate.—Advt