New-York tribune., 1918-07-20
Says Czecho-Slovaks Are
Only Organized Force
and Should Be Helped
100000 Facing
Famine Amid Plenty
Pestilence Raging Through
out Land and Strong Hand
Needed to Restore Order

LONDON, July 2o.-Lord Robert
Cecil, who has just left the post of
Minister of Blockade to become Assist
ant Secretary of State for Foreign Af-
fairs, in an interview with the Associ-
ated Press last night, urged the neces-
sity of the Entente Allies sending i'm
mediate help to the Czecho-Slovak
forces along the Trans Siberian Rail-
road
"The presence of a Czecho- Slovak
army in Russia at this time is, be-
ieve, one of the miracles of history"
Lord Robert declared. eve have be-
held one of the greatest empires of the
world plunged into such an appalling
state of disorganization that nothing
like 1T is known in modern history~-a
situation so unprecedented that the
world seemed merely to stand aghast,
hopeless.
'Then, suddenly, we find this Czecho-
Slovak army, we'll drilled, carefully
organized and ably led, stretched
across the backbone of the Russian
Empire over line nearly 5000 miles
long. 1t is the only organized force
we know of in the whole of Russia to-
day making for even the elementary
principles of order and civilization.
"If the Allies allow it to be wiped
out for want of ammunition, food or
moral support there is absolutely no
leaven left to leaven the lump, and
small hope remains of preventing the
Russian people from being over
whelmed by terrible series of eco
nomic disasters during the coming
winter.
81 have recently heard men who know
Russia well speak of what is likely to
happen there during the coming winter
under the present chaotic conditions.
One authority estimated that 10000, 900
people would perish as a result of dis
ease and economic disasters, which are
inevitable, unless some unforeseen al
deviation comes, and comes soon. If we
can tide the Russian people over this
difficult winter believe they will begin
to get on their feet again.
Zone Of the tragedies of the Russian
revolution has been that it resulted in
dispersion and disunon rather than i'll
any united effort toward united de-
mocracy. Wherever you get two Rus
slams together day you find two po-
lltical partieS-there are almost as
many political parties as there are Rus
SLAMS. This, of course, has been true
of all great revolutionary upheavals. It
is one of the recognized symptoms Of
revolutionary fever, and the Russian
people must be given a little time so
that this symptom may abate.
AT the present time the ordinary
Russian is unable to see any particular
reason why he should believe the same
as anybody else or cooperate with any
body else. The Russian people will
1,on tA
chance, and l think the Czecho- Slovak
army can be made a. great agent in
assisting the patient in this state of
convalescence. Russia is like a patient
with a broken limb which is slowly
mending. The Czecho-S -Slovaks can be
made into stout splint, which will
support the broken limb while it is
healing.
There are many uniting forces in
Russia if they are given a chance, but
Russia must have breathing space
Unless some strong, helpful force can
be brought to bear soon | am firmly
most terrible winter of hunger and
disease which any nation has ever
known
AS long as the present state of dis
order continues it is certain that the
present disorganization in economic
industrial and commercial life must be
continued. 1t is my apprehension for
the coming winter that has been one of
my strongest reasons all along for urg-
ing the Allies to assist Russia from
the East. | am convinced it is the only
possible way to help Russia.
1--WE are told we should perhaps wait
for formal invitation from the Rus
slams themselves. But the masses of
Russia are inarticulate, and there is
no voice which can express their will.
We know they need help and it seems
our duty to extend them that help in
the best and quickest way we can. for
delay must inevitably mean the loss of
millions of lives from hunger and
disease.
"Russia is country which is far
more than supporting. it is the
gigantic granary Of the world, with an
untold wealth of every food product
necessary to mans support. Yet al
most in the midst Of the granary mil
lions of persons are destined to die of
starvation this winter unless some
strong hands lend help in the restora
ton of transportation facilities and ele-
mentary industrial activities"