Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, JULY 18th, 1918 GREMANISLNG OF RUSSIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, JULY 18th, 1918 GREMANISLNG OF RUSSIA.

In connection with the policy of Germany in Russia, an Austrian Pole in the course of reference to the importance of Poland thereto, aavs the collapse ■ of Russia lias opened to Germany a ! vista undreamt of in her most daring ! schemes of conquest. But a year ago ! expansion towards the 'East seemed denied to her. To-day Russia is at her feet, and Berlin glances boldly across the Urals towards Vladivostok and sees scarcely an obstacle in her path. Militarily annihilated for an indefinite period, Russia would seem to he an easy prey to German economic expansion. German organisation, German talent for penetration, and the absence of serious competition might quickly gain control of the incalculable resources of the old Empire of the Czars, with its mineral and agricultural wealth Rendered independent of the rest, of the world in regard fo raw materials Germany would flood with her commodities the 180 millions of former Russian subjects, deprived of national industry, and, while leaving to the TJussians a semblance of national independence, would make of them a. col oh y. a nation of workmen over whom the Germans would stand as a. dominating military caste. Wore the Allies to accent (he abandonment of German ambitions in the West in return for giving her a free hand in the East, the policy of Prussia, it is pointed out. would tend towards a single aim—that of creating a politicalindustrial, agricultural, and mineral aggregation of territories, stretching from the Adriatic to the Balkans and YRdivostook, and from Tabriz f.o the

Polar Son, tho whole l>oing sustained, governed, and exploited under the Prussian military system But if Germany is to realise her dreams of world domination Poland must ha strangled, la that consists the explanation oT tho energy which Prussia is exerting to settle (lie Polish question in such n way that that country l may never again thwart her ambitions. If is logically urged that in the ro-es’tablir<hmeat of an independent Poland, in confederation with tho Vkrnino and Lithuania for tho presentment of n united front as regards military matters and foreign policy, can .•done he found an effective check to Germany’s aspirations in the Fast. The evidence of the desirability of intervention on the part of the Allies in Ttussin, and of file reiteration of their intentions regarding the future of Poland and neighbouring Shies upon which Germany has laid hand appears to be irresistible.