AN EXPRESSION OF RACIAL HATRED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11214, 21 October 1914, Page 4

AN EXPRESSION OF RACIAL HATRED.

When it comes tp being 100 per cent anti-Germanic, the Czar of All the Russias is an efficiency expert. Not content with stripping awav all the titles, decorations and colonelships, he had conferred upon the Kaiser, Nicholas goes the limit and changes the name of the Russian capital, presumably, because the "burg" in it had a Teutonic savour.

St Petersburg is a name no more to be spoken in Russia. Its common abbreviation, Petersburg, is equally taboo. Petrograd is the new monaker of the gay town ori the Neva. It must be said that the change is appropriate, for it tends to glorify (as wits originally intended) Peter the Great, who founded 'the city. Peter had just enough modesty to make it appear that he was honouring St Peter and not himself. Why he tacked on the " burg " is not apparent, but he had travelled a good bit ; in' England and Holland, and in one of those countries the ending iaay have impressed him. Pctrograd, for a Russian name, has a gbod snap to it. It may sound at ■firftt like some new oil for motor-cars, but we will get used to it—unless it should be its fortune to become Wil-

helmsbnrg later in the year. The Czar could have done worse. One of tho minor:capitals of Russia is Nizhni-Nov-gorod, and another is Ekaterinoslav. American shipping clerks, we are sure, will approve the Czar's choice.—New York Press."