THE ALLIES--RUSSIA--JAPAN.
Since its outbreak the great war has, and, before it is over, will have,
played havoc in many ways in the wide world. Criminal aspirations have
been quashed, extravagant hopes shattered, an ancient throne overthrown
almost without a clash, an autocrat sovereign murdered, another forced
to abdicate and go into exile.
In the open airs, on land, over the waves, under sea, the fighting demon
has been most actively at work, ordering one of the belligerent, eager
to obey, to spare no one, young, weak or old. Death has been dropped
from the skies on sleeping non-combatants, assassinating right and left.
On the soil Providentially provided with the resources necessary to
human life, homes have been ruined, their so far happy owners brutally
murdered. On the ocean the treacherous and barbarous submariner,
operating in the broad light of the day, or in the darkness of the
night, has sent, without remorse, to the fathomless bottom, thousands
and thousands of innocent victims, children, women, old men, wounded
soldiers spared on land but drowned at sea.
Viewed from the height of a much nobler standpoint, the war has
developed a superior degree of heroism perhaps never equalled. Belgians,
Serbians, Poles, Armenians have endured, and are still suffering, their
prolonged martyrdom with a fortitude deserving the greatest admiration.
The nations united to withstand the torrent of German cruel and depraved
ambition are writing, with the purest of their blood, pages of history
which, for all times to come, will offer to posterity unrivalled
examples of the sound and unswerving patriotism which has elevated them
all to the indomitable determination to bear patiently, perseveringly,
all the sacrifices, in lives courageously given, in resources profusely
spent, in taxation willingly accepted and paid, in works of all kinds
cheerfully performed, which the salvation of human Liberty and
Civilization shall require.
The collapse of the ancient and hitherto mighty Empire of Russia will
undoubtedly be one of the most startling events of the "Great War." For
the present, I shall not comment, on the causes of this momentous
episode, incidental to the wonderful drama being played on the worldly
stage, more than I have done in a previous chapter. Still the important
change it has made in the respective situation of the belligerents, with
the prospective consequences likely to follow, one way or the other,
calls for some timely consideration.
Evidently, the downfall, first, of the Imperial regime, second, of the
_de facto_ Republican government by which it was replaced, throwing the
great Eastern ally of Great Britain, France and Italy under the
tyrannical sway of the "bolchevikis" terrorists, most considerably
altered the relative strength of the fighting power of the belligerents.
Very detrimental to the Allies, it was largely favourable to the Central
Empires. The "Triple Entente" as first constituted, was much weakened by
the desertion of one of the great partners in the heavy task they had
undertaken, whilst the "Triple Alliance" was strengthened in a relative
proportion, at least for the time being and the very near future.
Evidence, incontrovertible, is coming to light, proving what had been
soundly presumed, that "bolchevikism" was not merely the result, as in
other instances, of the violence of sanguinary revolutionists
overpowering a regular progressive movement of political freedom and
reform, but that it has been the outcome of German intrigue easily
succeeding in corrupting into shameless treason the "bolchevikis"
leaders.
As a Sovereign State, as an independent nation, Russia was, in honour
bound, pledged not to consent to a separate peace, and to make peace
with Germany only with conditions to which all the Allies would agree.
Acceptance of, and concurrence in, all peace agreements, were the
essential clause of the pledge Great Britain, France and Russia had
reciprocally taken in going to war with the Central Empires. With this
sacred pledge Italy concurred fully on joining the Allies.
To that solemn pledge, the American Republic has emphatically assented
when she threw her weighty sword in the balance against blood stained
and murderous Germany.
The "bolchevikis'" treacherous government repudiated the solemn
engagement of their country, threw her honour to the winds, sold her
dearest national interests by the infamous Brest-Litovsk treaty.
Betrayed Russia was out of the war, leaving her Allies to their fate.
From a military point of view, the consequences were easily foreseen.
Freed from the danger of further attacks on the eastern front, both
Germany and Austria could send their eastern armies, the first, on the
western front in France, the second, on the Italian front. Germany, only
requiring a sufficient force to keep down trodden Russia under the yoke
treacherously fastened on her neck by the traitors who had ignominiously
sold their country to her enemy, and anxious to profit to the utmost by
her success in coercing the Russians to agree to dishonourable peace
conditions, hurried more than a million men over to the western front.
Austria did likewise, sending a large force with the hope of smashing
the Italians out of the fight.
Those were no doubt very anxious days. All remember how the Italian army
lost in a very short time all the ground they had so stubbornly
conquered.
Germany made formidable preparations to strike, in the very early spring
of the present year, a decisive blow by which she fully expected to
reach and take Paris. We shall never forget the feverish hours we lived
when came the successive reports of the crushing advance of the Teutonic
hordes so close to the illustrious capital of France.
For a while, it seemed to be--and really it was--a renewal of the first
terrific invasion of northern France, in 1914. Fortunately, it was
Providentially decreed that the second onslaught was to meet with a
second Marne disaster. The Huns were forced to retire after a tremendous
loss of men and war materials, the allied armies, brilliantly led and
fighting heroically, redeeming all the lost territory and, at the moment
I am writing, moving steadily towards the German frontier.
The great good luck of the Allies, treasonably sacrificed by the Russian
bolchevikis terrorist government, was the solemn entry of the United
States into the European conflict.
Preparing for the grand effort which she confidently expected would be
final, Germany rashly decided to resume her barbarous submarine
campaign, positively determined to criminally violate all the principles
of International Law regulating warfare on the seas. That outrageous
decision was her fatal doom.
Its direct result was to bring the American Republic into the war. And
then the whole world was called upon to witness, with unbounded delight,
the very impressive spectacle of millions of fighting free men being
successfully transported over the sea, and landed on the French soil, to
join the grand army which, for the last four years, had been resisting
the full might of the autocratic forces.
However difficult it is to foretell what the political developments of
the present deplorable Russian situation will be, still it is not
illusory to believe that, history once more repeating itself, the
present sanguinary Russian regime will hasten its well deserved
ignominious downfall by the very brutal excesses it multiplies in its
delirious tyranny. There are too many elements of the immense population
of Russia favourable to an orderly and sensible government, to suppose
that they will long fail to gather their strength in order to redeem
their country's honour, and to remove from power the traitors who are
the shame of their fair land. When the infallible reaction sets in, it
will increase the more in momentum that it will have been longer
repressed by foul means.
The most important point of the present Russian situation to consider is
that of the best initiative the Allies could, and ought to, take
respecting the military question.
Many are of opinion that it would be possible, for the Allies, to help
Russia out of the present difficulties by an armed support. Such views
have been more especially expressed in the United States. Could they, or
can they be carried out? I must say that in a large measure I share the
opinion of those who would give an affirmative answer to the question.
It is well known that the matter has been most seriously considered by
the Allies, and a favourable solution seems on the way of a satisfactory
realization.
To the armed intervention of the Allies in Russia, following closely
upon the infamous Brest-Litovsk peace treaty, there was a very serious
obstacle of German creation.
It was evident, at the very start, that if intervention there was to be,
the one Ally to play the most important part in the great undertaking
would be Japan.
The British statesmen who, several years ago, brought about the treaty
of alliance between Great Britain and Japan have deserved much from the
Empire and from the world generally. Surely they had a clear insight of
the future. True to her treaty obligations Japan at once sided with
Great Britain in the war. All those who have closely followed the trend
of events since the outbreak of the hostilities, know how much Japan has
done to assist in chasing the German military and mercantile fleets from
the high seas, more especially from the Pacific ocean. Canada owes her a
debt of gratitude for the protection she has afforded our western
British Columbia coast from the raids of German war ships.
Foreseeing that the proximity of Japan to eastern Russia was an
inducement for the Allies to decide upon an armed intervention which,
starting from Siberia, might roll westward over the broad lands leading
back to the European eastern war front, Germany lost no time in trying
to poison Russian public opinion against the Japanese. Her numerous
representatives and agents told the Russians that if they allowed Japan
to send her army on Russian territory, they would be doomed to fall
under Japanese sway. They recalled the still recent Russo-Japanese war,
amplifying the supposed aims of Japan so as to stir up the national
feelings of the Russians. Such a cry, assiduously and widely spread, was
no doubt a dangerous one.
Under those circumstances, Japan wisely decided to remain in the
expectation of further developments before moving. She took the safe
stand that she would intervene only upon the request of the Russians
themselves, pledging her word of honour that her only purpose would be
to free Russia from German domination, and that she would withdraw from
Russian territory as soon as complete Russian independence would have
been restored and the treacherous Teutonic aims foiled.
Evidences are increasing in number and importance that the Huns'
propaganda in Russia against Japan is being successfully counteracted by
the good sense of the people, realizing how much their vital national
interests have been trampled upon by Germany in imposing her peace
conditions on their country betrayed by the bolchevikis rulers.
An armed Allied force has been sent to, and has been, for some weeks,
operating, in Siberia so far with commendable results.
For one, I have most at heart an expectation which I would be most happy
to see realized. It seems to me that there ought to be a chance, nay
more, a possibility, for the Allies to organize, between this day and
next spring, a strongly supported intervention in Russia. In that event,
Japan of course, would take the lead. She could rapidly send to help the
Russians to resume their part in the war against Germany at least a
million of men; two millions if they were needed. As a guarantee of
Japan's good faith, the Allies, more especially the United States, could
send over contingents to Siberia.
There is no doubt whatever that so supported, the revulsion of Russian
public feeling, once set in motion, would soon overwhelm the
bolchevikis. A sensible and patriotic government, once at the helm of
the state, could easily and rapidly reorganize a powerful army out of
the numerous available millions. The financial aspect of the question
would certainly be the most difficult for Russia to meet, after the
exhaustive strain she has had to bear. But however great their moneyed
effort, the United States could yet do a great deal to help Russia
financially.
Will the hopes of so many be realized, and will Russia, resuming her
place of honour in the glorious ranks of the Allies, be found battling
once more with them when together they will finally crush the German
tyrannical militarism? God only knows, and time will tell.