The Wanganui Chronicle WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 1928. THE BEAR IN THE RING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 276, 21 November 1928, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 1928. THE BEAR IN THE RING

“THE WAK that was to end war is ten years over, and the League of Nations is in existence to preserve the peace—not to mention the recent signing of the Kellogg Paet, and the international agreement to limit naval armaments —but. the dogs of war are still snarling—and it seems that the nations still employ attendants to toss bones to the brutes so as to keep their courage up.

One of the surest ways, of course, to irritate a quiescent nation into warlike activitiy is for adjoining nations to form a defensive alliance between themselves, leaving the “odd man out.” This is nearly always sure to develop into an offensive alliance, even supposing the “odd man” doesn’t take the field first. The latest of these alliances to be given publicity is that between Poland and Roumania against Soviet Russia, and it is said that. France is so far a party to this alliance that she has agreed to back the military aggression of Poland and Roumania with naval operations in the Black Sea. Nobody will sympathise with Soviet Russia, which has for years been organising “the peaceful proletariat” for the cutthroat business of war—war on any nation or institution that did not believe with the Reds that capitalism was a crime and capitalists the natural prey of the official executioner. But there will not be any feeling of greater security against war, despite the League of Nations and the Kellogg Pact and the Limitation of Armaments. What further limitations, it may be asked, are Poland and Roumania going to make in the matter of armaments now they have thrown down the glove to Russia? Poland and Roumania, it may be mentioned, are the hereditary enemies of Russia—their hatred of the Bear goes back very many years, and has many a massacre in its memory of olden oppression. As though to make more menacing the alliance of the two countries, it is reported that Hungary and Bulgaria would assist in forming a ring around the Soviet. And will the Bear sit down quietly on its haunches in the ring and allow itself to be baited?

For years now we have heard of monster preparations for war on the part of Russia, of wonderful progress in military aviation (one reputedly authentic report stated that Russia had more efficient military flying machines and pilots than all the other nations put together), of incredibly efficient artillery, and of perfectly-drilled hosts of men, equipped with every need of the most modern army. Such a nation would not take much goading into action—there might be a disastrous scattering of those who formed the ring when the Bear decided to charge. (.If course, Russia might, in the end be beaten, but of what avail would be war, even with victory? There have been several invasions of Russia, but the invaders have always been glad'to get out again. In modern times, Napoleon tried invasion; later, the German hordes crossed the frontier. As a cynical American critic remarked, when it comes to invading Russia, the invaders find there is “too much Russia.” Just at present a world, still nervous with memories of 1914-1918, will hope earnestly that Russia will not consider the new alliance too provocative to endure. For the world is not yet ripe for another war to end war.