The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1920. RUSSIA

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14259, 9 January 1920, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1920. RUSSIA

The recent successes of the Bolshevik armies have been so sweeping as to lead to Uie conclusion that there is not sufficient vitality and force in any opposing section of the Russian people to promise success. In the dearth of reliable news from Russia it is hard to form any satisfactory idea of the position, but the few facts that leak through load to the impression that there has been a great change in the manner in which the fighting has been' conducted. Six months back there were statements made of great successes achieved first on one side and then on the other, accompanied by accounts of the prisoners taken, which were in such numbers as to show that civilians who were indifferent to their fate were counted as prisoners of war, or else Hhat the tales were entirely without foundation. Both sides at that time contented themselves with raids into that part of the enemy’s territory where there was least fear of opposition. Of late this has been'altered, and the warfare has been conducted on lines which certainly approached the scientific, and which do achieve certain definite results. It is impossible to resist the conclusion that the Bolshevik armies are commanded and officered by Germans. There are, of course, large numbers of such men, bred to w°r, and without any knowledge of civil pursuits. There is no opening for them in Germany, and they naturally turn to the country which offers occupation, and possibly a career. Such men would have been a menace to the peace of Europe for years to come under any circumstances, but it must be admitted that they are more dangerous In Russia than elsewhere, for the possibilities of that vast misunderstood race arc unknown. The original mistake was the endeavour to suppress Bolshevism by armed force. When the Allies first made the attempt the Bolshevik troops, whether few or many, were obviously inefficient, and the disorganised condition of the country made supply difficult, though they were said to have large quantities of mumlions shipped by England and France for the use of the Czar’s armies. They naturally cast about for means of defending themselves, and presumably accepted tile assistance of German volunteers. As Ihese came forward in sufficient numbers they made the Bolshevik armies an effective lighting force, and hence the successes they have recently had. It is impossible to say whether they are likely to form a threat to peace in Asia, as is evidently dreaded by some people at home. We do not know the strength of the German element in Russia, and for want of such knowledge any estimates arc hut guess work. It may he that in the general welter the army is the one effective agent still existing, and in that case internal necessities will lead them to foreign adventures. This seems the more probable course, as we are told that Lenin has ceased to be President

of tlic Soviet Republic, though ho is I still vice-president. If he had remained

in power it is safe to say that there

would have been no more fighting than was actually forced on them, for Lenin seems to have realised from the first the difficulties of inaugurating his new system, and lienee the haste on the part of the Bolsheviks to conclude peace with Germany. If Lenin had the direction of affairs we might have seen an active propaganda, for he is a modern, with the modern’s faith in the printed word. So far as Asia is concerned the effect lie would have produced would be negligible for many years to come. Scattered races of herdsmen and primitive agriculurists are very slowly amenable to ideas, and the cries which appealed to factory operatives and city dwellers in Eastern Europe would he meaningless in Asia Minor or Afghanistan. We have in fact displaced the man whose action was a minor evil, and seem in some danger of incurring the greater risk qf facing an armed foe. Such a danger is especially to be dreaded at the present time. The fate of Turkey lias not been settled, and some of the many tribes in that ill assorted Empire are ripe for mischief. Egypt is evidently in a most unsettled condition, and the new wine of nationalisation poured into the old bottles of Mohammedan fatalism is producing a ferment with which it will be hard to deal. Afghanistan has recently shown a disposition to be quarrelsome, and though any one of these troubles may seem slight the cumulative effect joined to the difficulties of distance and position make them serious. We should have done well to let Russia settle its own internal affairs, and by this time Bolshevism would either have collapsed from its. inherent unsuitability, or would have approximated in methods to the system of government previously in force. It is questionable to-day whether Russia is sufficiently advanced for any form of government other than absolutism, and there is no necessary connection between absolutism and the cruelties, corruption, and abuses that the country suffered under the Czar’s regime. It is, however, too late now for us to decide to leave the Russians to settle their own affairs. It is to be feared that they will attempt to create troubles elsewhere, for if our theory that Germans dominate the 'position be correct, there is no other career open to them, while there is more than one promising field of adventure. The Americans are said to have consented that Japan should have a free hand in Siberia on condition that she stopped the progTtss of the Bolsheviks, but wc hope that this statement will prove false. We have no sympathy witli those who have nothing but abuse for races with different coloured skins, and we all acknowledge that Japan behaved well towards her allies during the war. Nevertheless we cannot be at the prospect of her obtaining control of Siberia, and being thereby put in the position of exercising greater control on China. The remedy may prove worse than the complaint. In the present condition of the world it would be hard to imagine any greater disaster than another war. Yet evidently the fear that this may recur is present at home. Those who think so evidently desire to meet the evil half way, although it seems to us that we have already made one mistake in 'that direction, and should do well to pause and see whether the utter exhaustion of Russia may'not accomplish peace in spite of whatever efforts may be made by oxGerman soldiers to stir up strife.