RUSSIA'S GREAT TRIAL

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1679, 4 May 1904, Page 77 (Supplement)

RUSSIA'S GREAT TRIAL

GLOOM OF HER PEOPLE. “NOT A PICNIC/’ A message to the “Express,” from St. Petersburg, dated February 24, says:— Russian feeling regarding the war* in the Far East has undergone a far-reach-ing and significant change. Where a week or two ago- the struggle was viewed with the utmost optimism, a deep gloom is now to be found. When war was first talked of, and even when it had actually been entered upon, Russian opinion of every dash was light-hearted and optimistic. i Japan under Russian government was seriously discussed. “The little yellow monkeys of the West Pacific’" would, it was freely predicted, be quickly wiped out of existence as a nation, and Russia’s power in the Far East would become impregnable. The fleet in the East would soon put. all Japanese j ships out of action, and then proceed on a holiday cruise, bombarding Japanese towns on. the sea coast as an occasional pastime. “If England could send huge massesof troops 7000 miles across the scab and conquer a sturdy, hardy race such as the Boers,” it was said, “surely we, with our

magnificent railway line to-take us right on to the field oi battle, and-our of men, can easriy answer for Japan’s pigmies.” But tills feeling of confidence has now*, given way to one of the- deepest gloom. The fleet on which so much depended lias been hopelessly beaten, and the railway, which was to make the War a- picnic, has proved entirely inadequate! for the tafek. : Officially, everything is going well.; Reports are daily circulated of great Russian victories, and every effort i)9 made to- convince the people- that the optimism so- ireciy expressed! before the war began was flu lily justified. ' But' the truth is leaking: out, and so much has aireaffi” become known that any report coming from an official quarter is at once efeeredited. The nation, both rich and poor, is realising under what terrible handicaps it entered into the struggle. Stories- of tons of Toodl and ammunition needed by the army in the Far East and yet piled up around wayside staiiomk on. the Siberian railway, without any chance, of reaching their destination, are in con-! stan-t circulation. Not only is it realised that the Siberian railway itself has broken down 1 , but that the transport facilities; nearer home m the eastern province of European Russia have- also proved inadequate to even a tenth of the military needs. Troops, instead of getting through to Mancauria. are being starved and frozen to death on the roads. In addition to this Russia finds herself unable to feed the peoples in helfl, leg Anna i© Far Eastern posseiffiions. Th® Siberians are literally starving. All Russia’s convicts have been drafted into the "army. They have to be fed somehow, and tlfe Russian Government has decided under the circumstances' to make them active units* of the army ini return for their food.