The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-09-05

Not Even Fall Of Petrograd
Could Crush Spirit
Of People.
MOSCOW MADE NATION
University Economist Says
Napoleon's Victory"
Caused Defeat.

Even tho fall Of Petrograd into the
hands Of the Germans would not mean
Russian defeat but would only cause a
reaWakcning Of Russian nationalism.
according to DIR. Louis Levine. pro.
lessor Of economics at the State Uni
verslty and student Of International
conditions who has spent several
years in Russia. Professor Levine re-
turned last night from New York city
where he has been doing research
work during the last three months.
"Petrograd IL not Russia in the eyes
of the people and although it ID the
political center 1t means no more than
that to the majority OF Russians"
said DR.. Levine. "The capture Of
Moscow In 1879 by Napoleon simply
meant the birth Of national sentiment
for Russia and the fall Of Petrograd
even should 1t occur. although 1t IL
very unlikely, would have the same
effect today"
Cars influence 9till Felt.
In speaking OF the retreat OF the
Russian armies DR.. Levine suggested
that we should not be too hasty In
blaming the present situation upon the
new government because the old reg
imc under the car and his ministers
left the military status of the country
in such a disorganised state that It
Would be almost impossible for the
country to get back into shape with
in q short time. DR.. Levine said that
the recent Investigation by the Ste
vens commission showed that the en-
tire transportation System OF the
country had been utterly neglected
and was in q horrible state Of affairs.
Army Previously oiserQanistd.
evidence that the present disor-
ganixed state Of affairs in the army
| is due to the high officials under the
car" said DIR. Levine, was brought
out in the trial of Snkhomlinov. the
minister Of war under the old govern
! ment. 1t was shown that he had pur-
| posely left the army in state of dis
organization and had sold military Sc.
| crets, because he was in the employ
of the German government.
Hugo Democratic Experiment.
I'VE must be patient with the new
Russia. for they are trying an ex
pertinent In. democracy much large'
than has ever been attempted befor'
in history and it is natural that tn.
working out of the experiment would
| gesult In q certain amount OF confu
Sion.
"There are 1so.o00.000 people II
Russia at the present time trying t.
regulate their local life and organiza'
ton under the new government. Aftel
years of suppression 1t is no wonde
that they are taking advantage of THU
opportunity to really live and rul'
themselves.
viser Certain Eventually.
When asked of the apparent disin
terest Of the soldiers In the war, Dr.
Levine said: 1T IL natural that tn
army Of Russia. and especially tn
peasants who make up the large por
ton Of the fighting forces. should b.
more or less restless because of q d.
vided interest between war measures
and home reconstruction. But Their
is little doubt. as the internal govern
ment Is reorganized and political ant
economic conditions are democrattxed
that the soldiers will once more tur
their attention vigorously to fighting
the Germans"
During his stay in New York Oh
Levine spent much Of his time in re
search work and in meeting peopl
who have recently come from Europ
and have witnessed conditions there.