The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-10-18

Roukhion insisted or having the work
done by Russians totaRy unfamiliar
with Il. in factories which the RUS
SLAMS took ten times az long to con-
struct as the Americans would have
required
"On the financial side the situa-
ton is almost as bad. The minister,
y. L. Bark, IL a man OF no very sig
mai ability who knows enough. how
ever. TO DE guided largely by his
French and British colleagues. But
ChipOn. the head OF the state bank.
has given rise TO no little criticism Of
his capacity in Russia by his insist
ence on guarding the gold reserve Of
the empire intact. whatever happens
TO Russian exchange.
1T Is the emperor's willingness to
keep men like these in office under
present critical conditions which has
filled the intelligent Russian with APP
prehension At the prospect OF his act
i've participation in military affairs at
this uncertain juncture. No one in
Russia Ia ignorant that the emperor
takes his traditional position as the
father OF his people with almost de-
Vout seriousness. II Is scarcely pos
sihle to conceive TO what unexpected
action his conviction that he Is called
20 be a second ST. Vladimir may lead
him. His intentions are admitted 20
- excellent. But Russia could do
with a little less exalted purpose and
a little more practical efficiency.
The same may be seid OF the
duma. with the most patriotic tn
tentions IN the world OF leading the
fun cooperation OF the people OF
Russia 20 the defense OF the empire.
is members raised. at n crisis when
nobody hA6 time To consider them.
the most complex and embarrassing
questions OF internal reform. To
open the discussion OF the ACCESSIBILITY
Of a responsible ministry when plain
ly every thought IL necessary to the
national defense. seems almost abb
surd. yet that is precisely what the
Russians let the duma do. and by
permitting IL. succeeded in placing
the emperor In a position which
threatens To jeopardize his personal
popularity. at the moment when II ia
perhaps the most valuable asset the
government possesses.
From "A military standpoint. there.
are two great dangers In Russia to-
day. The hrst lies in "a continued and
successful German drive on Petro-
grad; the second liz a drive In the OPP
posite direction, with a view To OPEN
ing "a way through Russia to the
Black sea. to recstablish the broken
communications with the ottoman
empire. Both are regarded AS most
unlikely OF success even n attempted,
but Doth must be considered in weigh
ing h present situation In Russia.
ut is scarcely probable that the
Russian armies viii begin To receiveI
In sufficient quantities the small arms
and munitions they lack much before
November. u rs not therefore very
likely that they viii be ready to as
sumo any serious offensive before the
first Of December
Meanwhile the defensive retreat
must go on. General Rousski. who ~
looked upon as one Of tho ablest mill
itary commanders Of the empire, has
The defense Of Petrograd In hand
The important defensive works which
ne has caused TO be constructed about
Pskov are thought to oe as nearly
im"pregnable a. any entertainments
have proved in his war. His line,
facing almost south, also serves to
threaten the German communications.
In tho event of any further advance
into Russia n TO render any such
further advance dangerous.
In this respect, therefore. the Rus
sian situation may be regarded as sat
i~sfactory though the danger Of the
fall of PetTograd should not be be-
Titled. P%etrograd " almost essential
to the Russians. not on account Of
any sentimental reason connected
with ~ being the capital, but because
thrce-fourths Of the industries d.
rectly connected with supplying he
! troops are located there, aud their
loss would be "a blow from which Il
would he dihicult for tho Russian
| troops 10 recover.
son the south tho situation IL less
defined. n IL evident that 70 Com
stantinopte falls and the allies are
able to rush arms and munitions In
large quantities 20 the Russian forces.
the situation OF the Germans viii be
most serious. over and over again /
| have noted that whenever an import.
ant shipment OF munitions has oeen
made 90 any sector ~ the Russian
line. the retreat has promptly stopped
IN tina sector. u slow hut certain ad-
l%Vance has begun. and long train
1 loads OF prisoners have begun To
| come through nom hat part OF tho
front. II Is common opinion In Rus