The Wanganui Chronicle THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1927. THE MENACE FROM THE EAST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19793, 17 March 1927, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1927. THE MENACE FROM THE EAST

Peace conferences and efforts for disarmament will fail of effect unless all nations concerned participate. So long as even one nation holds aloof, it is a potential danger to the rest, and must compel them, for their own protection, to burden themselves with the armaments they would willingly do without. Partial participation, instead of universal, is one of the reasons why the League of Nations, for instance, is an ineffective factor for world peace. So long as two large nations like the United States and Russia remain outside its membership, the League can never completely fulfil the hope held out for it. Whether it would do so if they were included in it is perhaps arguable, but there can be no argument on the point while they continue in their present isolation.

The very real danger to world peace which is threatened by Russia is again made manifest in a cable published to-day, which gives details of the Soviet’s military strength and warlike preparations. It is customary at the present time to regard France as the strongest military Power in the world. So far as completeness of equipment, organisation and preparation are concerned, this is probably correct, and France’s active army of close on 400,000 is a large force, though it should be remembered that a certain portion of it is employed in keeping the peace among the tribes of Africa.

Numerically speaking, however, the French army is of but moderate proportions when compared with that of Russia. With 650,000 officers and men in the first line, the Soviet has the biggest standing army on earth. Add to that a round million of territorials and militia which can be speedily mobilised, and it will be seen that Russia has a striking force of such dimensions as well explain the uneasiness with which her military preparations are regarded. The reserve of 8,000,000 men mentioned by the cable is probable largely unorganised, but even without this reservoir of man power, a first and a second line totalling 1,650,000, and that in a time when the other nations are in at least a fairly peaceable frame of mind, is quite enough to make the world apprehensive of Russia’s intentions.

POLSON GAS WARFARE

The discussion on the subject in the House of Commons brought into prominence another disturbing feature, namely, Russia’s extensive preparations for poison gas warfare, concerning which Sir L. Worthington Evans, the British Minister of War, stated that there was not the slightest doubt that they were the greatest in the world. In addition, it was stated that Russia had built and was still building numerous munition factories. <

One member of the Commons asked whether an offer could not be made to Russia to abandon gas warfare if she did likewise, but this is too remote a possibility to hope for. Before the Great War there was an agreement among the nations not to use this particular weapon, but Germany broke her pledged word by resorting to it and thus compelling the Allies to do the same, or suffer the alternative of being wiped out. Could anyone for a moment believe that Russia would be more scrupulous than Germany, or keep her word even if she agreed te such an arrangement, which she is not likely to?

These huge forces and these equally huge preparations which represent Russia’s military policy are not meant for ornamental purposes. They can be meant for one purpose only—war. The Soviet has declared time and again, in terms too unequivocal to be misunderstood, that its policy is one of world revolution. It hopes to bring the whole world under its heel, first by stirring up internal strife abroad, and then loosing its armies to complete the work. Anyone believing otherwise must surely have a touching faith in Russian goodwill. Russia, be it remembered, has not the slightest intention of joining the League of Nations. Nor does she intend to respond to any invitation to a peace conference. Therefore, heavy as the burden of armaments may be, there does not seem any prospect of escaping it while this menace from the East continues. Indeed, it would be rank folly to endeavour to do so. At the same time, the situation provides another field of endeavour for peace advocates. They might cease for a time from reproaching their own Governments and try their persuasions on the Soviet.