“MIGHTY RUSSIA!”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VII, Issue 202, 20 June 1917, Page 3

“MIGHTY RUSSIA!”

A GERMAN WARNING. Tn the “Local-Advertiser” of March 13 front-page prominence is given to one of the most remarkable articles about Russia which any German newspaper has published during the war. It warns Germany that, revolution or no revolution, Russia remains a mighty foe. Official Germany was evidently in no doubt, even before the Czar’s abdication was an accomplished fact, iliat the Revolution denoted one thing and one ’thing only—the people’s determination to go on with the war. The article urgently warns Germans to blunder no delusions on this score. The writer even finds courage to declare—and the Government-controlled organ prints the phrase in bold-faced type—that the moujik (Russian peasant) has revolted “because he is no longer willing to wage war to fill the pockets of Petrograd bankers, generals, and factory owners.” This frontal-attack hint may not he entirely lost on the Gorman moujik and others. The intention is to show that however events in Russia may develop, thev cannot undermine the real sources of Russia’s military strength—men and food. “Let us face the facts, and judge Russia’s power of resistance on we basis of actualities, instead of from tho standpoint of doubtful possibilities. The main question is. has Russia still the necessities of life? There is no lack of either cattle or grain. There is shortage of both at the moment, and everything is terribly dear; but don’t let us imagine from this that famine is stalking through the land. A country with the coal, forestry, and agricultural resources of Russia can neither be frozen nor starved out. That is impossible. MUNITIONS. “Is it possible for Russia indefinitely to replenish her supplies of guns and ammunition? That is the second great question. 1 think wo may answer it with a ‘No’ without letting a ishes become father to our thoughts. Munition production depends on tho capacity <>f industry. Gigantic efforts were made to estabij.-Ji a great munition industry in Russia, but none of the Government’s organisation failures during the war has been so disastrous. Machinery has failed, and the moral quality of Russian workmen has failed. The peasantry was impressed suddenly into industrial work, but it did not take either enthusiastically or effectively to tiie change from tne plough to the lathe. Russia soon found herself entirely dependent on foreign munitions, mainly from Japan and America. The net result is that her capacity to continue tho war is simply a matter of her ability to continue the import of munitions. The i itai aitery of Russia urns through Archangel. '1 hat fact illuminates the enormous danger which onr I - boat warfare constitutes for Russia.

“Let us not pin too rosy hopes on internal turmoil in Russia. Let us not build any air-castles out of her food and fuel difficulties. Let us confine our hopes to the realm of tangible reality. If we can tlrag this last plank (Arcbangel) from beneath our enemy in the East, then his big words about ‘war to the last man’ must be drowned beyond hope of resuscitation.”