The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-11
THE RUSSIAN MENACE.

The allies appear to have decided
to let Poland fight it out alone with
the BoIsheviki. This decision is due
perhaps to the refusal of the people
of England and France to stand for
another war so soon after the one
with Germany. The allies encouraged
leave her to her fate.
The impending triumph OF Russia
over Poland may mean more to the
world than now seems apparent. If
the allies do not fight the Bolsheviki
now they may be forced to do so later
A dispatch from ConstantinopIe.
dated July 29, announced that Dol
shevist penetration of Armenia is con-
tinuing;" and another dispatch from
Berlin, dated August l. announced
that The Russian soviet government
has invited DjemaI Pasha. former
Turkish leader in Syria. to come to
Russia and take over the command of
the Mussulman divisions of the soviet
forces, according to a special dispatch
from Bucharest to the Lokal-Anzeiger.
The soviet authorities are said to have
recognized the Indian revolutionary
committee as the legal government of
India and to have granted it a loan
of 100000 gold rubles. Revolution
airy committees in Turkey, Persia and
China also are receiving liberal finan-
cial support. The Russian fleet on the
Caspian sea has been reinforced, says
the report. and concentration of troops
on the Persian and Afghan borders is
continuing"
The existing war grew out of the de-
cision of the allies to build up a buffer
between Russia and Germany. from a
Greater Poland. a Greater Rumania
the Ukraine. and number of small
states-Letvia, Esthonia and Lithu-
ania. In accordance with this plan,
Poland was encouraged to open its Of
fensive against Russia and to present
demands as follows: Nine additional
governments" intending TO re-estab-
| lish the eastern border of Poland as it
existed before the first partition. in
177z; the right of temporary occupa-
ton of the Smolensk government, and
among other things. that Russia
should Indemnify Poland for the
! devastation of lands and Industries
caused by the overrunning of Poland
by Russian armies since 1914"
! The nine governments demanded by
Poland. in addition to the territory
granted by the peace conference rep
resented territory equal in size to
that of Germany, with population of
over 26.OOO,OoO. OF this population
81 per cent are Russians. % per cent
are Lithuanians and Jews, and only 5
per cent are Poles. Still more striking
was the Polish demand that Russia
should Indemnify Poland for the
devastation of lands and industries
caused by the overruning of Poland
by Russian armies since 1914" The
Polish statesmen seemed to forget that
the establishment of Poland as a
united independent state was possible
only thru the allied victory, and that
to this victory the Russian armies that
| 'overran" Poland since 1914 contrib
uted more than their share.
In addition to the creation of a
| Greater Poland at the expense Of Rus
STA. the Polish statesmen pursued an
other objective. and that is the crea-
ton of an Independent Ukraine from
territory belonging to>Russia. The ef-
feet of this endeavor to partition Rus
STA was the reawakening of Russia's
national spirit. The Bolsheviki. who
by this time faced a grave internal cri-
sis due to the thoro Reorganization OF
Russia's economic life brought about
by the Bolshevist regime, took advan-
tage of the situation. and appeared be-
fore the Russian people as the defend
ers of Russia's unity and integrity.