Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-31
Interesting Resume From Mon
golS IncurSion Into Slav
Territory to Date.
BY FREDERIC r. couDERT, JR.

BY FREDERIC r. COuDERT, JR.
The superficial success and appar-
emily inYincible power Of the German
offensive which has swept Galicia
clear CT enemies has awakened in a
few timid souls the apprehension that
Russia is perhaps after all not i'm
disciplined and already in irredeenI-
able retreat before the modern Genghis
Khan. A glance at the Intellectual OPP
Grafton OF the German war machine
during the past 10 months and at
the repeated unfulfilled announce
ments of the pending fall Of the Polish
capital will tend to quiet these appre-
tensions An examination Of Russian
history for the past 10 centuries will
show how unfounded they are.
The earliest foreign invasion we
need notice is that of the Mongols.
This vast incursion OF an entire nomad
nation only became possible, 1t will
be noted, when the early national or
ganization, framed by Rurick in the
ninth century, had begun to lose its
cohesive force History shows how
stubborn was the Russian resistance
in the face OF such overwhelming odds.
The irresistible horde swept onward
and all Russia perforce fell before an
onslaught which, In the language Of
DeQuincy, can be likened only to the
life-withering march of the locusts.
But the occupation of the soil did not
obliterate the resistance of the defeat
ed inhabitants. Their firmness of pur-
pose was unconquered and the en-
forced submission to vastly superior
numbers left mistaken their natural
pride and love of country. Gradually
their resiliency reasserted itself and
in the course of years the few over
came the many. Russia was once
more free from a domination which
seemed destined to be perpetual.
In 1916, uniteu Under the leadership
of Ivan the Great, prince of Moscow,
all Russia arose in arms and by 1880
had completely thrown off the Mongol
yoke. -Four years of bitter failure
and defeat were necessary to teach
the Mnscovite how to overcome his
Tartar conqueror, but ultimately sue
cess crowned his efforts Thus in the
very earliest stages of Russian devel-
opment the national characteristics
had begun to assert themselves-te-
nacious firmness and indomitable reso-
luton.
Ii was not until the early 18th GEN.
fury that Russia was again in serious
danger from a foreign conqueror. On
November 80. 100, Charles XII Of
Sweden, the greatest military genius
of his time, crushed the army of the
car at Narva. After this disaster
Russian military organization bent be-
fore the storm and left the frontier
open as far as Pleskof. Charles. there
fore, felt at liberty to turn aside into
Saxcny to avenge himself on King
Augustus. He thereby neglected his
most favorable opportunity of striking
a blow at the heart of Russia. While
himself engaged in reducing Saxony
and Poland, his lieutenants repeatedly
defeated Peters new leyies. When at
length on August %, 1907, with an
army of $4,000 victorious veterans,
Charles began his long procrastinated
invasion CT Russia, Peter could not
muster an army in any way compara-
bic to the trained Swedes. The car,
therefore, determined to resort to the
system utilized by the Scythians
against Darius which later proved so
disastrous to Napoleon. He led his
enemy onward into the painless
deserts of his vast and mysterious en-
pire, relying upon the severity OF the
elements and the constant logged ops
position of his people, to accomplish
what his professional soldiers had been
unable to do in battle. The Russian
losses sustained in these unceasing
conflict could easily be replaced
whereas those of Charles were ire
parable.
Despising every warning the deluded
pressed ever onward, seeking
to strike decisive blow. But Peter
refused to risk battle until all his
forces were collected, and the Swedish
army weakened by its very onward
progress. He did not fear to lure his
enemy into the vital recesses OF his
empire. Not until thee invader had
reached Poltaya in the heart of Rus
STA did the emperor decide that the
time had come for striking a blow.
The Russians at last greatly outnum-
bered Charles. and what is more, were
lighting for their desecrated homes.
Of all that proud army which had
crossed the Russian border in August,
only Charles and a small group or
followers succeeded in cutting their
way into nearby Turkey. Thus the
combined forces of nature and grim
Muscovite unity of purpose carried the
day where the trained armies OF
Sweden had failed.
Charles the XII was beyond cues
ton the greatest captain Of his time.
His military genius enabled him with