Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-11
TROOPS OF ALLIES MUST
AID MODELLING REPUBLIC
DIR. Thompson Reviews Situation in
Russia i'll Sermon Mt Park
Place Church.
MUST BE MADE TO STAY FIRM
Russian Greed, After That Of Ger
many, Had Its Part in Starting
War Which Allies Are Now Called
On to Carrying On.

After reviewing the situation in Rus
sa and reaching the conclusion that
aggressive forward movement on the
part of the Russian armies is not to
be expected during the present war. Rev.
William l.. Thompson. D. D.. pastor OF
Park Place Methodist Church, declared
last night that troops of the allies
should be sent to the wabbling republic
TO do police duty and prevent aid being
given TO Germany,
"rhc time has come" said Dr. Thomp-
son. when Russia must not desert her
allies; she shall not. \ police force OF
100000 Japanese soldiers would do in
valuable service on guard at vital
points in the great territory. \ con-
tingent of the British army and of our
own army would ovcrawe the impress
sionable people: and if they could not
be forced to fight. they could certainly
be made to keep their armies on guard
IN the trenches and prevent the Ger
mans from touching the grain fields.
I don't believe Russia is going to
night. ! don't believe she will ever
strike another blow for liberty But
we may at least force her TO stand up
and receive some OF the blows which
might otherwise fall upon us.
GREATEST TASK EVER COMMITTED
TO STEWARDSHIP OF MAN
Facing us is the greatest task ever
committed to the stewardship of man
In the history of the world" said DR..
thompson in conclusion. There is no
doubt as to the outcome. The only
question is as TO the cost in men and
III money. 1t looks tonight as if il
were going TO take all we can organize
into the purchase price to pay down
to save the worlds civilization God help
us as the summons comes. as patriot
ism puts the buEle to her lips and
sounds the note of wild alarm. that we
may do our duty. that may play
our share. that we may not be found
wanting"
DR.. Thompson preached from the text,
Shall n nation be born at once?"
Russia seems to be the only instance
in the long history OF national evolu-
.tion in which the question is answered
directly. he began. Other nations
laid the foundations of their life
deep in the past. and built il
up slowly through the years and the
centuries. mixing their laurels with the
mortar until they came to the dome
complete. In Russia the sun went down
few months ago on the worlds might
lest autocracy, the sun rose the next
morning on nation born, not into
democracy. but into chaos. anarchy,
confusion and the abandonment of
ideals"
MUST NOT ALLOW RUSSIA
TO DESERT HER ALLIES
Russia must not desert her allies"
pr. Thompson emphasized. 1T will
mean the demobiliZation OF 10000, 900
soldiers, to whom we have rushed as
sistance. If they will only stand true,
we VIII maintain and equip them.
When the Russian army fails. there is
released large part of the German
forces. who may overcome bleeding
France and England before we can
support them. If France and England
are forced to make terms of peace.
we must fight alone and single handed
on our own soil. If Germany g3ins
possession of the Russian grain fields
the largest in the world. and applies
her efficiency and thrift to tho pro-
duction of crop, enough wheat will
he produced in one year to make q
blockade useless and starvation i'm
possible"
The fact that the spirit of the Rus
sian nation was childlikc and liable
to extravaganza and folly was dwclt
upon in the sermon. Russia has the
stature of giant with the intellect
and the arms of an infant, DR.. Thomp-
son said. The nation is simple. untu-
tored and undisciplined. II has gone
uplifting. There are no traditions of
glory The nation is without history
or glorious achievements, and has never
felt unitedly the pull of "A great ideal
The only way for Russia to take her
place in the worlds civilization and
work out her own destiny, said the
speaker. is for her to get down into
her national life love of country as
deep and invincible as the incoming
,dc y nation cannot be born in
day.
Next 10 Germany, Russia is the
nation most responsible for the world
war, ana she must not quit until the
last gun is silent" said DR.. Thomp-
son. Had il not been for Russia's
Jealousy of power in the Balkan states
that led her TO interfere in Austria's
quarrel with Scrva. Il widespread
struggle might have been averted.
When Russia moved. cords of honor,
strong AS steel, drew France in, and
the war became inevitable"
mr. kARP Fl EcTEO