WAR AND REVOLUTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21878, 14 August 1934, Page 13

WAR AND REVOLUTION

Sir,—Your correspondent " Muscovite" blames tho Russian revolution for the bloodshed and other evils caused bv the interventionists led by General Wrangel. Crimes of the kind attributed to tho Bolsheviks had been perpetrated —horror on horror —by the various Tsarist Governments long before the first revolution. It is now genera IN agreed that tho Bolsheviks were much too lenient toward those who opposed them. As a New Zealander who deplores our national smallmindedness I consider we need more men like Mr. Dickinson to lighten our darkness. M. B. SOLJAK. Sir, —When one recalls the fine spirit of citizenship demonstrated by the life of the late Sir Maurice O'Rorke, past president of the Auckland University College, a deep sense of regret and wonder must be felt when a member of the staff of that institution will publicly say that "tho only good thing which came out of that terrible war was the Bolshevik Revolution." That reform and development in Russia were long overdue we know. But what must impress the genuine student of the subject is the extent of the tragedy involved, 111 that leading thought in that country was unable to effect that reform through constitutional channels, thus avoiding that slowest and costliest of all methods; revolt, with its accompanying trail of bloodshed and anguish. As for the anti-war council, the writers served four years in the infantry in the late war and are prepared to do so again should unfortunate necessity arise. They appreciate the benefits of nationhood. They are frank enough to admit that tho land which gives them their livelihood was won by the sworu, and that by the same means must it be held. They realise that the greatest military and maritime nations of the world are its leaders in the advancement of civilised liie and uplift, and are the safest to live in. Two Diggers.