The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1917. RUSSIA'S DEFECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1917. RUSSIA'S DEFECTION.

AflSirs in Rusia are not on the mend. On the contrary, tliey are going from bad to worse. Confusion is everywhere) civil war is raging in certain parts j starvation stalks through a land which is plentifully supplied with foodstuff*; and the armies are leaving their trenches and pillaging ■ the countryside. It is a truly awful state of things, but one which must rejoice the heart of the unscrupulous Hun, whose gold and intrigue no doubt are at the bottom of it all. For thg time being the Bolsheviks, the extremists, are,in command, and they are crying aloud for an immediate peace, and not caring one' jot about the Pact of London or any other moral obligation to tli© Allies i They are making overtures to the enemy, who affects to disdain to have anything to do with any but a responsible government. Notwithstanding, the extremists have practically arranged an armistice on all fronts, the soldiers being enjoined to disband and return their arms to the depots. The Cossacks, too, the mainstay of the southern armies, are reported as having left the front and joined General Kaledin in the Caucasus, electing their own parliament and declaring their independence. To all intents and purposes, therefore, Russia has disappeared from the battle front, and nothing is to be gained by hiding the fact. The great Russian steam-roller has failed to materialise, and it is patent now more than ever the war ha» to be won on the Western front. Had Russia held fast and fought as she did up till September, 1916, the end of the war would ere this, no doubt, have been in sight. As it is, the end seems as far off as ever. With Russia maintaining only t passive resistance to the enemy, she was containing at least a coupie of million of enemy troops, per- j haps inferior troops, which will now be available for service on the French or Italian or Balkan fronts. And these additional forces will neutralise the value of the American troops' assistance, rendering nugatory maybe, the 1918 spring campaign. That is the worst feature of the situation. The war has resolved itself into one of attrition, and it is likely that the process will be prolonged indefinitely. With Russia paralysed, what of the unfortunate Roumanians, burning to recover their country and punish the invaders for their crimes. Can they do anything? We are afraid not, for. unsupported on either

side, the Roumanians would be rolled up and destroyed us a lighting force. Roumanian position is a tragic one .She came in at Russia's behest, with promises of ample and immediate help, hut one.! committed she was shamelessly left bv the Russians, who held up supplies and munitions, and, when",too late to be of effective use, joined forces with the hapless Roumanians. 2?ow, when her forces have been reorganised, when she is ready to striks. the enemy an effective blow, when she can respond to the pressure applied by the Salonika forces, Roumania is left to her fate, left to make the best bargain she can with the heartless, cruel, and exacting enemy. Her position is not an enviable one. It is more pleasant to turn to the Italian front, where th»'ltalians (ire successfully resisting the (powerful thrusts of the enemy. To sttch an extent is this the case, that we are told there is no necessity for the employment of the AngloFrench, who are being held in reserve. This is encouraging news. It shows the Italians are recovering their morale and have at last got the measure of the enemy, who is throwing into the battle tens of thousands of men in thg endeavor to ibreak through the Italian line. It is another Verdun, and the outcome, it is to be hoped, will fro the same. The snow has come at last, restricting the movements of enemy guns and men, and giving the Italians further time to reorganise their forces and renew their stocks of munitions and big guns. Italy appear.s to be saved, and by her own sons, and for this the Allies have much to be thankful.