The public ledger., 1918-05-31

the United States can successfully ap,
proach Russia not only with offers o.
assistance but with actual assistance
II II were possible or practicable i'm
medlately to send TO Russia the vas
quantities OF supplies OF all kinds that
are needed an undertaking Of thlf
kind would be speedily under way
But there ls a lack Of shipping facill'
ties, due to the imperative need ol
American troops and supplies IN
France at this time. SO also there Ii
lack of certain kinds Of supplies, es-
peclally industrial apparatus and rail.
road equipment, OF which Russia IL
greatly In need.
It would be practicable II the i'm
pending obstacles were removed Ia
establish n credit for Russt In the
United States against which a respon-
sible Russian Government or respon-
sible Russians could draw in payment
for agricultural implements and rail
road equipment, which are especially
needed, and many other commodities
But the United States and our allies
would undoubtedly find themselves
face to face with obstacles created by
Germany in order to prevent Ameri-
can supplies from reaching Russia.
Those who are best informed re-
specting present conditions in Russia
are convinced that the only hope for
effective resistace to German aggres-
sion lies in the creation of an entirely
new fighting force. This should be a
voluntary revolutionary army. An
army of that kind can be trained and
we'll disciplined.
Some intimation have come to the
United States, possibly Major Thach-
er may have brought information
which confirms these intimations, that
already the Russians who are pre-
pared to resist Germany, if that can
be done, are organizing a revolution
ary army. But an army of that kind
must have munitions, equipment and
competent leaders. President Wilson
undoubtedly now knows that America
is at the present time the only hope
that the Russian people can entertain
for complete redemption.
When the authoritative history of
the Russian collapse and the German
advance into Russia has been written
it undoubtedly will be recorded in one
chapter that the allies have failed
Russia steadily ever since the revo-
luton of March II. President Wilson
undoubtedly understands that Amer
lea and her allies will lose forever
their opportunity in Russia unless
there be abandonment of the view
which has been taken, not by the Unit
ed States, but by some of our allies,
that there will be support of no Gov
ernment in Russia unless the kind of
Government all the allies approve be
established.
The opportunity will certainly be
lost to us unless there be perfect CO.
ordination and cooperation with re-
spect to the policy of the allies in the
Far East Furthermore, Russia must
be abandoned, unless far as the allies
are concerned, unless there is COM
plete elimination of the view that has
in some quarters prevailed that it is
better to have the aKiser administer
Russia than the Soviet Covert ment.
Again, those who are best informed
are certain that the chance which we
still have of aiding Russia will be de-
stroyed if we permit military junkers
to organize in America revolutions
against the Soviet Government.
Notwithstanding the great difficult
ties which are in the way of American
assistance to Russia the hope is
strong that with President Wilson's
aid and that of the American Red
Cross under the leadership of Colonel
William B. Thompson, influences will
be speedily developed and strengthen
ed so that at last the Russian people
may feel assured that America will
find the way by which they can be
helped, and will provide them with
all they need, not only in the way of
funds and supplies, but also indus
trial, railroad and commercial lead
ership.
Whatever may be the ultimate re-
suit OF the StupendOuS nSntlnS III tHe
West, nevertheless, it is belief of those
who best understand Russia and the
situation there, that all of the battles
win count for comparatively little un-
less Germany is driven out of Russia
and that great empire at last, as was
the case with France year or two
after the Franco-Prussian war, is es-
tablished upon firm basis of repub-