The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-10-28
GREAT LEADER is
NEEDED BY SLAVS
Returned Military Authority
Doubts That Gar Is Strong
Enough to Meet Emergen-
cy--Nation Not Beaten.

pf several months In Russia, with the
imperial armies, has furnished the AS
/, ISOLATED Press with summary Of the
Situation at the time when the en-
peror OF Russia took personal com.
mand of the land and naval forces OF
the empire. a# LID.
ct is useless to deny the gravity of
the situation in Russia" the officer in
question said, but 1t would be quite
as erroneous to regard Russia's posi-
zion today as desperate, or even as one
OF imminent danger. The morals OF
the Russian forces is absolutely I'M
touched by the long series of retreats.
The Russian people are for the war TO
q man, and every defeat has served
only 20 confirm them in their stubborn
az examination to drive every German
Grom Russian soil. Were the govern
ment TO undertake to make a separate
peace for Russia now, 1t would nave
to face a spontaneous and flaming In
surrection in all parts OF the country.
This Is only one side the medal,
however, Tho charge in the supreme
command OF the imperial armies has
had It's drawbacks. The grand duke,
Nicholas Nicholaievitch, was never a
great tactician, nor did he ever pre-
tend TO be one. But he had the con-
fidence OF his officers and the absolute
faith OF his men. The latter the en-
peror win also have-perhaps even 20
greater extent than his great uncle
for the emperor of all the Russias is
almost a religious figure to the aver
age Russian. But how much conf
dence he will inspire in his officers Is
another matter. They know that
when Nicholas Nicholaevitch said q
thing ne meant IL. He was Nke d rock
In his de -lsions, and Nyithal fundamen-
tally Just and or open mind. His OF,
6cers could depend upon him ana
they did depend upon him. And II mad
off thrnnRn0uI
army. .~
Fear Gar is Weak .-....
with the emperor the Russians fear
II may be different. In the first place,
he not only Is not a soldier. but he Is
very strong advocate Of world peace,
he has retained confidence In former
Minister OF War Soukhomlinon, In
whom certainly no one else has any
confidence. and who Is generally re-
Karded I'm Russia as an incompetent
who, with Rasspoutin, has had very
sinister influence on the emperor.
"The emperor himself also recalled
to office when. with much difficulty he
mad finally been got rid of, s. v. Roukh-
ION. who now occupies the most Inn
portant civil post in the empire-that
Of the ministry OF communications, ana
who Instead Of planning to transport
arms ana munitions to armies in des-
perate need of them, is intent upon
Z
own of Russia for the Russians. In
place OF accepting a very favorable
American offer to erect factories In
Russia for the reassembling Of Amer
team war materials by those familiar
with the work. Roukhloff insisted on
having the work done by Russians to-
tally unfamiliar with II, in factories
which the Russians took 10 times as
long to construct as the Americans
would have required.
ION the financial side the situation
is about as bad. The minister, p. l.
Bark. Is a man Of no very signal abil-
ity. who knows enough, however, to be
guided largely by his French and Brit
fish colleagues. But Chipoff, the head
OF the state bank, has given rise to
no little criticism OF his capacity In
Russia by his insistence on guarding
the gold reserve of the empire intact
whatever happens to Russian exchange
Russia Needs Efficiency.
1T Is the emperor's willingness to
keep men like these In office under
present critical conditions which has
allied the intelligent Russian with APP
preheasion at the prospect OF his active
participation in military affairs at this
uncertain juncture. No one in Russia
In ignorant that the emperor takes hts
traditional position as the father OF
his people with almost devout seri-
9unDQ0Gs
conceive TO what unexpected action his
conviction that he Is called to be a
second st. Vladimir may lead him. His
tntentions are admitted to be excel
Tent. but Russia could do with a little
less exalted purpose and a little more
practical efficiency. 49, ~.s
The same may be said OF the duma.
! With the most patriotic intentions in
the world OF lending the full coopera-
Ion OF the people OF Russia to the
defense Of the empire, its members
raised. at crisis when nobody has
time to consider them, the most COM
plex and embarrassing questions OF i'm
EernRl reform. To open the discussion
Df the edvisability Of a responsible
ministry when plainly every thought is
necessary to the national defense
seems almost absurd; yet that Is pre-
ciseiy what the Russians let the duma
do. and by permitting II. succeeded in
placing the emperor in a position
witch threatens to Jeopardize his per-
H0nsl popularity, at the moment when
1t A perhaps the most valuable asset
the government possesses.
From a military standpoint there
are two great dangers in Russia today
The first lies in a continued and sue
cessful German drive on Petrograd;
the second Is a drive in the Opposite
direction. with view to opening way
through Russia to the Black sea, &C
fGeStaDltSh the broken communications
with the Ottoman empire. Both art
regarded as most unlikely OF success
even II attempted; but both must be
considered in Weighing the present sit
uation In Russia.
Foresees Russian Recovery.
1T Is scarcely probable that thu
Russian armies will begin to receivt
In sufficient quantities the small arms
and munitions they lack much before
November. 1t Is not, therefore, very
likely that they will be ready to as.
sumo any serious offensive before tho
first OF December. .... '...
Meanwhile the defensive retrea
must go on. General Rousski, who Il
loolsed upon as one Of the ablest mill
sAry commanders of the empire, hai
the defense OF Petrograd In hand. The
important defensive works which ht
has caused to be constructed abou
Pslxov are thought to be as nearly Inn
pregnable as any entertainments hav'
proved IN this war. His line, facing al
most sought also serves to threaten
the German communications In thu
event Of any further advance into Rus.
sIa and to render any such further ad
vance dangerous.
@In this respect. therefore. the Rus
nlan aiffAsa tfOu NAV be regarded as sat.