Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-26
BY Richmond Pearson Hobson.

through the use of psychological
forces. The most interesting exam
pie is that of the German soldiers by
hundreds OF thousands literally ac-
ing as tutors to the Russian army
This fraternizing between the lines
of the soldiers of the opposing armies
has produced an attitude of union
among the Russian soldiers that H.
terally paralyzes the effort of the
government
NJ Tseretylli. speaking before the
Council of Workmens and Soldiers
Delegates, made the following start.
| ling statement;
Privates Now Pass on Generals
Orders.
The soldiers believe that an ad,
vance at the front carries with it the
idea of imperialism and so refuse to
bulge from the trenches-they mis-
understand the whole idea of peace"
In the days OF the monarchy what
the soldiers themselves thought was
regarded of little mportance-they
simply obeyed orders. Now no order
may be issued by the commanders
in-chief unless approved by the coun-
ell Of the soldiers. What the pri
vate soldiers think has become of
supreme importance, and as fate
would have it the enemy and not
their own officers and government are
determining the thoughts OF the sol
diers. The German soldiers are prac.
tically all educated men-90 per cent.
|of the Russian soldiers are illiterate
1t is readily understood how the
German General Staff has seized the
opportunity in the general fraterniz.
ing to force the German soldiers into
trenches of the Russians while au-
thOrities are unable to interfere.
The Minister of Foreign Relations.
Paul NJ Milukoff, who has just re-
signed, went to the front, and dele
cations have been sent to the front
to appeal to the soldiers and counter.
act the effect Of the German teaching.
1t is comprehensive how this teach.
ing of the soldiers. carried back to
the peasantry, might not only stop
Russian military activity against Ger.
many, but might even throw demo
cratic Russia under German control /
for the future in peace and in war
The so-called peace move of the
German Chancellor last winter was
shrewdly calculated to affect the psy.
chology of both sides. Without dis. /
closing any of his own specific plans, |
he succeeded in getting the allies to
reveal a programme of conquest and
Of suppression of the German peoples
right to govern themselves.
Yields German Factions Together.
The effect was to weld the inter.
nal factions Of the Teuton power to
fight for home and native land for
the right to life, liberty and the pur
suit of happiness, while it caused the
allies peoples to drop from the high
moral altitude of fighting for human.
ty and human right to the low arc
OF fighting the conquests.
The action of Great Britain in form.
ing commercial league among the
allies to suppress German commerce
after the war played into the hands
OF the German Chancellor in using
the psychological forces to nerve the
Teuton peoples and to unnerve the
peoples of the allies.
Only last week, in the Chamber of
Deputies in Paris, the declaration was
made that Germany must be shorn
OF harbors and merchant marine. of
her principal mines and public 70. /
sources, and must be required to nav
the cost OF the war to the allies; that
the allies must administer the Gus.
toms, the railroads, the posts and I
public utilities of Germany until such
indemnity were paid This cannot
Dut have a bad effect upon the fight.
ing spirit of the French and good
effect upon the fighting spirit of the
Germans.
Advices from Petrograd indicate
mat the internal conditions of Russia
are becoming more and more perilous
10 the cause Of the allies. The press
announced few days ago the resig.
nation OF the General commanding
the military forces at Petrogrand
with bitter words that his usefulnese
ana the efficiency of his command
nave been destroyed by interference
rom the Council of Workmens and
Delegates.
a few days later the resignation NJ
lhe Minister of War and Marine Cen.
eral Gouchkoh, was announced under
circumstances much the same. The
commanding General at the front.
General Brussiloff, and General Gurko
asked to be relieved.
a sad and tragic note is struck in
ne speech Of the Minister OF Justice
who bemoaned his fate
nat ne did not die at the time OF the
evolution before losing confidence in
ne integrity OF his fellow-revolution. /,
SITS and in the capacity of Russian
PEOPLE to govern themselves. Recent