The Otago Witness. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1918.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 35

The Otago Witness.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1918.) THE WEEK.

WITH WHIOII lE. IKOOKPOBATKD fIU SOUTHSUV JfEEOTHI.

“Hnnquam allud natura, allud aaplectla fflxJl.** —Jotekal. "Good nature and good »en«o mut eTer Join/'— Pora. The area of the war is gradually extending until it promises presently to encircle the entire, globe, and with the extension of the fighting the accompanying problems'—international, interracial, political, and industrial—are becoming more and more pressing and. acute. The news; which comes from Washington by way of the Japanese Embassy, that Japanese and Chinese troops have been ordered to Siberia threatens to precipitate a delicate and dangerous situation, and one which is causing the greatest anxiety on the part of the leaders <jf' the Allied nations. The news from Russia is so conflicting and confusing as to give small grounds upon which to base sane and sound conclusions, but it ia evident that there exists grave danger of Russia becoming a valuable appanage of the Central Empires. It is to avert this danger that all the influence of Allied diplomacy is being exerted. A sidelight upon the condition of things prevalent in Petrograd prior to the revolution has been thrown by Sir George Buctianau, lata * British Ambassador to tne Russian Court.’ In the course of a recent speech Sir George said that, while he could not yet make a full revelation of the things ne had seen in Russia, it almost broke his heart to think of them. - On one point Sir George Buchanan was imperative—viz., that it was untrue to say that the Czar on the eve of his abdication favoured! the concluding, of a separate peace with Germany; ‘‘the Czar was not a traitor, and would never betray the Allies’ cause.’ Despite the Czar’s loyalty to their cause, the Allied Governments deemed ■it wise and prudent to recognise the revolutionary movement which deposed the head of AU the Russias, even - though that movementS roved kaleidoscopic in its frequent and ramatio changes of leaders. When the revolution took on its present Bolshevik attitude, and developed an anarchio Socialism of an extreme type, including the forcible seizure of property and the repudiation of national debts, the Allied Governments, as the trustees of law and order, despite their democratic sympathies, hesitated as to the right course to pursue. That hesitation afforded Germany an opportunity of which she has not been, slow to avail herself. Under a specious pretence of concluding peace the German diplomats have been busily engaged in endeavouring to clasp Russia to their arms, and, of course, to their own advantage. It is characteristic of German methods that, while with one hand she is , signing a treaty of peace, with the other she is making a rapid descent upon Petrograd upon tlje plea that the state of anarchy now well nigh universal demands a strong hand to deal with it effectually. is thus a real danger that, with the consent of a large section of the Russian people, Germany may secure virtual domination over that vast Empire, including, of course, Siberia. On the one hand German domination has been perforce accepted by the Bolshevik party, who are irritated at their non-recognition by the Allies; on the other hand the German domination will be welcomed by the Russian bourgeoisie, who are being plundered by the Bolsheviks. The prospect of Siberia dominated by Germany is, of course, distasteful both to China and Japan, and the immediate reason, for Asiatic intervention is the fear lest the hime stores of munitions collected by the Allies at Vladivostock and other points on the Trans-Siberian railway, may fall into Bolshevik, • and subsequently into German, hands. The future course of events obviously depends upon the attitude of the Russian people, and this is a matter upon which it is well njgh impossible to secure an accurate opinion. Unless the proposed Japanese and Chinese intervention be accepted as a friendly act by the bulk of the Russian people, there is great danger lest the whole weight of Russian influence be thrown into the German scales.

Japan and Russia.

According to a cable message from Washington,' an exhaustive semi-official . investigation has revealed 'the alarming fact that the total shipping destroyed since the commencement o£ the war amounts to more than eleven and a quarter million tons, with the result , that

Submarines and Shipping.

the present acute shortage of v shipping totals 7,435,000 tons. Tire figures for last week show a sinking of 14 large vessels and of four small ones, as against 12 and three respectively in the week previous. Great Britain has now had more than 12 months of “unrestricted U-boat warfare,” during which period the sinkings have gone as high as 40 large vessels m one week and as low as one. If Germany could have kept the weekly losses up to the higher figure for the entire year. Great Britain would ere this have been at the mercy of the enemy. If Great Britain could have kept the losses down to the lower figure, Germany’s days would be numbered. As it is, the contest must do. set down as a draw, endorsing the opinion held in New York that “the optimism regarding the control of submarines was premature, and that the situation presents a fresh naval problem for the Allies.” Tire naval correspondent of the Observer probably has puf the matter in its true light an the following comment: —“Allowing that the boasts of the Germans as to the increasing number of their submarines are true, and that just now they are putting forth an increased effort," our losses., though serious,

We reached nothing like the figure attained in April last, while the volume of traffic is about the same. The inference seems to be clear that each U-boat is individually much less effective and that its loss of effectiveness is due to our improved methods both of attack and defence. That the losses of the enemy are therefore, greater is not an inevitable but quite a legitimate conclusion to come to. .The moral effect of this is likely to bo important. The offcnsivo spirit of our men will mount with success, while that of the Germans will be depressed by losses of which they can get no definite account." The lesson so far as this Dominion is concerned is, of course, that the shipping facilities available will con'tinue to be curtailed so long as the acute shortage of tonnage obtains. And the likelihood of the men of the Second Division being sent into camp hinges almost entirely upon the ability of the Imperial authorities to provide the needed pcean transport.

The victory of Mr Duke in the election at Wellington. North makes matter for general congratulation ; it would have been little ' short of a Calamity had Mr Holland been elected. At the same time, the polling by the defeated candidate of within 400 votes of the victor is a circumstance which carries its own moral. After every allowance for the cross-currents at work in, this contest and for the somewhat remarkable combinations to which it gave rise, the voting points to a considerable dissatisfaction V’ith the administration of the National Government. We hesitate to believe that the 2566 electors •of Wellington North who voted for Mr Holland were at one with the candidate in his anti-military service sentiments; rather are we inclined to surmise that the voting was intended as a gentle hint to the National Government to mend its ways in several important respects. All things considered, there is a good deal to be said both from the point of people and of government for a general election, this year, Mr jMassey contends that his Administration •©till carries the confidence of the majority of-the people of the Dominion; it would immensely strengthen his hands were he to secure a fresh mandate from that majority. There is a probability that the war may continue for another two or three years, and it is manifestly impossible that the present Parliament shall continue its life without reference to the electors. [Both Canada and Australia have had a general election since the war without perceotible hurt ; and surely hiew Zealand can suffer a similar experience. While It is true that the election of 1914 took place after the outbreak of’ hostilities, it also true that the full meaning of the titanic conflict had at that time scarcely dawned upon the public consciousness. Mr Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, and the other member’s of the Cabinet will be well lidvised to give due heed to the considerations we have here set forth.

The Moral of Wellington North