Evening star., 1917-11-03
VIEW RUSS PLEA
WITH SYMPATHY
British Press Cites Immense
Burdens and Sacrifices of
SIav Government in War. =,
FEW DIscoRDANT NOTES

By the Associated Press.
LONDON. November 3-Most Of the
morning newspapers print Premier Ks-
rensky's interview with tho Associated
Press conspicuously, but the comment
is not general Tho Petrograd cor.
Of the Daily Telegraph. who
is now in London. writes:
Premier Kerensky's statement seems
to have been taken q little too seft-
ously in some quarters. II even has
been construed as a hint that Russia
is toying with the idea OF . separate
peace. This theory should not be al
Flowed to establish itself.
Probably all kerensky wished was
to indicate facts familiar to close stu.
dents of Russia for some time. and
they are such as to arouse sympathy
rather p,. than h suspie,1n III ;s true that
true for a much longer time than has
elapsed since the outbreak Of the fevo.
luton. Unfortunately, until that event
from being told about Russia's share
In the war, which has been greatly un.
derestimated. The essential fact Is that
what Russia had she has given
Russian Casualties Hign.
The writer then tells Of the immense
sacrifices in men that Russia hes
the trial Of Gen. Soukhomlinof. for
mer minister of war, of how Russian
heroes stood up with only sticks,
stones and fists against the organised
German troops. He believes that the
Russian casualties have been higher
than those of any other Of the main
belligerents. The writer also en-
phasizes the privations Of the civilian
population and the shortage Of food
since the middle of 1915. and adds:
80
ger in some of the northern provinces
and it is not pleasant to think what
the situation in such districts may be-
come early in the future.
What kerensky wants apparently IL
not a release from the bonds which
weakness. and Russia certainly has
deserved Indulgence for her efforts
and sufferings All we can ask OF her
is to do her best. We must not be
impatient II that Is less than we az
pected."
Faces Appalling Difficulties.
The Daily Express makes a similar
plea, and says that no statesman ever
faced more appalling difficulties than
those that daily confront Premier
Kerensky. It admits that Russia bore
the burden Of the first months OF the
war and that the invasion OF East
SdSco AOaANS - @~-~-
being overrun. Regret is expressed
that the changed conditions Of war
are have made it impossible Tor the
British fleet to operate in the Baltic:
out the Express maintains that Al
Britain has been able to do to help
Russia has been done willingly. and
she Will do the utmost in the future
to help Russia establish her freedom.
Meanwhile" it adds, "as we under
stand the situation. we are to expect
4 at a1f a
that she hold her frontiers against the
common enemy. When she has found
herself her gallant soldiers will re-
appear in the active ranks OF the arm.
les of liberty"
Sees Pro-German Strain.
The Graphic says: I'VE should hxto
to regard the statements as authentic.
They have the ring of pro-German
propaganda"
The newspaper then says that Keren.
sky. 'if he has made such state
ment." should be reminded that France
and Great Britain have been in the
war as long as Russia, but are not yet
war weary and do not desire to shtrk
their responsibilities. Russia, 1t de-
ciares. also has received generous as
sistance from the allies and the United
States. The Graphic concludes:
Now is the time to prove her de-
votion to the ideals OF the allies. not
by lip service, but by good hard blows
on the weakened Austro-German lines
in the east
Assails Kerensky.
Gen. Gurko of the Russian army. who
arrived recently in England from Rus
sia, in an interview in the Daily Ex-
press. says that Premier Kerensky
showed lack of political sense and tact
in blaming the British fleet for not
entering the Baltic. He declared that
such entry was not only impossible.
but that it could not have been car
ried out in time to prevent the Ger
mans from landing on the islands In
the Gulf of Riga.
Gen. Gurko considers II true to a cer.
tain extent that Russia bore the brunt
of the fighting in the first eighteen
months of the war. but It realized that if
the allies cause was not to be ruined this
was necessary. He agrees completely
with Kerensky that Russia is ex.
hausted for the time being, but adds
that Russia should be able to under-
take her share Of the fighting