THE BRAVE BOLSHEVIKS.

Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 920, 1 March 1918, Page 10

THE BRAVE BOLSHEVIKS.

Runaway Revolutionary Socialists

Fin HE Russian Bolshevik leaders, those high-minded true Revolutionary Socialists once, if not of late, so belauded Tby the "Maoriland Worker" and the local Soshul Demmercrat gentry, seem to have a very wholesome regard for the safety of their own dirty skins. So long as they could butcher a few hundred unarmed civilians, or massacre the naval officers all in the name of that "Sacred Liberty" for which they profess siich enthusiasm, or rob banks and .churches, repudiate their just debts, and play the cat and banjo with Russian affairs generally they posed as the most heroic of men. But when Fritz comes along with his bigguns, even although Fritz be in no great force, the "Soshul Demmererats" (of Russian blend) exhibit an astonishing celerity in skipping away out of the danger zone. How utterly contemptible the Russian soldier can become after a few months' instruction in the noble gospel of Revolutionary Socialism has been evidenced by the fact that no fewer than 40,000 of them ' ; seized twenty-seven trains and fled back to Moscow." In all probability the Germans , were in no great strength. Indeed, if we knew the truth, it would be found we expect that it was one of the small detachments of from 1000 to 2000 men which caused the Muscovite stampede. * * * * The fact seems to be established that Revolutionary Socialism breeds arrant cowardice just as, when the Socialists have it all their own way, it breeds wholesale assassination. Even in this country we learned when the Big Strike was on how brave could be the revolutionaries with , bricks and broken bottles and how fast they could run when those who stood for law and order came on the scene and flourished their batons. Need we wonder that our own Revolutionary Socialists advocate New Zealand throwing up the sponge and letting "Comride Fritz" do as he likes. Oh, that these latterday "social pests" of New Zealand could but experience the tender mercies of Fritz just for one brief twenty-four hours , .! It would be a rude awakening that the Alexandra Hall blatherskites would suffer, but it might do them a world of good in the long run.