RUSSIAN SENTIMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11730, 21 June 1916, Page 7

RUSSIAN SENTIMENT.

THE MASSES AND THE BRITISH. A lady who has for twenty years' taken a deep, practical interest in Russia writes to a London paper: Early in the autumn I returned from Russia, where I had spent two months in the towns and the depths of the country, conversing with many classes, visiting the hospitals, and making myself generally acquainted with tho feelfing towards us. I had also been in Russia during the South African, war, when the feeling a&ainst us, fed largely from German sources, was extremely bitter. I could Out rejoice to how entirely that short-lived hostility. had * died out, and how readily the educated classes welcomed the new alliance with the country of tl?3ir admiration and , respect. As to tho more or less illiterate classes, I am convinced that they aro piofoundly ignorant of our existence except under the general name of Sovouznity (Allies). They do not clearly separate us from'the French, who for various reasons aro more of a reality to them. I give one of many instances that came under my personal observation. On tho honieward journey our train pulled up by the side of one which was packed with soldiers. From tho platform at tho end of our carriage I ' threw over a box of cigarettes to a soldier at the opposite window. "Where aro you going." I -asked. "To the front. And you?". "Homo." "To Finland?" ''No: a long way off. I'm a soyouznitza." "Oh, I sec, French." "No; English." "Anglichanka F" "What's that? I don't understand." He evidently communicated my nationality to the men in the horse-box behind him. Many, heads appeared at the windows. I might have said I was a visitor from another planet. One bright-looking young lr.an inquired, "What part of Russia do you liv»> in ?" "'Not in Russia at all. Far over tlue North Sea." '-'Where the cinder-water boats are?" He- wfts unusually veil-/ informed. "Yes." "Then God g6 with you; good-bye." Among the wounded there were constantly the same explanations; but of our Tommies wcro :t source of delight, and helped better than anything.ta make them realise us as fellow-fighters. In the country my friends always warned me no',; to speak English or French in walking with them through the "'J he peasants don't know tho difference between one foreigner and another, and might take you for a German." How can they love or hate that which they do not know ? There is room for a ast exchahge of sympathy and information ; for, while tho English masses have often been wilfully misinformed about Russia. the Russian folk have no knowledge of us whatever.