The chronicle=news., 1914-09-15

Petrograd. Sept. l5.-Much has
been said and written since August
81 of the causes of the great Euro
pean war and the attitudes, aims ant
ambitions of Germany. england ant
France in the struggle, but little has
been heard of Russia's side OF the ar
fair.
Susha Kropotkin, one of the best
informed Russians and a man who
knows whereof he speaks, has writ
ten the following article on the war
from the Russians viewpoint:
To say that the present war is a
war against militarism is to be gull
ty of a platitude. For days past
every leader-writer In the country
has been saying so. Yet the attitude
ON this subject OF great number OF
people is extremely curious. They
seem to be oppressed by the thought
that they may have to cry. when the
war is over. lie roi est mort. vive
h roi' (after Germany -Russia).
( England cannot crush German
Militarism alone All OF us who have
followed the lead of Germany for 40
Years must strike together. Belgium
has struck her blow France and
Russia will strike harder: perhaps
the heaviest blow will come from
Russia. And there is the rub. For
what If Russia, having helped to
crush Germany. develops psychol-
ogy analogous to that OF Germany af-
ter 1870. and after tasting power.
decides to become the greatest of all
S-fosters the spirit of militarism
which We are now arrayed against?
Yet us picture Russia victorious.
Then. so argues Mr.. Bernard Shaw
land in the given case he represents
not only himself but quite number
other people), the Russian gov
eminent will triumph-Germany will
be crushed-the balance of power
will incline in favor OF Russia. After
that the situation becomes too hor-
Stble to contemplate.
E"Mr. Shaw might be reminded that
there is another Russia-the Russia
Of Tolstoy. Borodine and Gorki.. But
br the time that is forgotten: or
1eolpe refuse to realize the extreme
important fact that If Russia is
Instrumental in defeating Germany.
will he largely owing to the intel
Agence of that other Russia.
Russians have sunk their differ
4Rees; they are showing united
front. A month ago there were bar
ricades in St. Petersburg: the day the
var was declared the barricades dis
appeared, and the men who had held
them were the first to join the army.
They were willing to lay aside their
personal grievances in the desire to
strike blow at Germany: and it is
military Germany at which they are
shining the blow. For those men and
women owe an enormous debt to the
culture of Germany. They know
more about it, too, than the men and
women of many other countries.
having studied 1t more closely. eager
to nssimilate what was best in it.
AT the same time they realize per-
fectly that the first culture to droop
and wither in the sitting atmosphere
oe6ermau militarism is German cult
ure. From supplying the world with
the best music and literature and
philosophy, Germany has become an
authority on uniforms and decorat-
i've dfnnerware. The Germans may
have fashioned great empire. but
they have become small peo1le.
Now. at last. they may become
great epople. If Europe succeeds in
bursting the bonds of militarism. the
first 10 benefit by the change will be
Germany. How much remains to be
seen: but it is interesting to remem-
her Bebeis words: Behind every war
of the future there turks revolu-
tion. Many on the other hand. eN-
pect a revolution in Russia. 1t Is
not to say that Russia will necessar-
lily have a, revolution when the war
endns: but what | do affirm is that
in Russia, just as in every other
country in Europe, there will be
rapid evolution of the present forms
of government.
Since the declaration of the war
n Russia there has been the most