The New York herald., 1921-01-16
mania Open to Boshevist Attack; One Seems Likely

liz A4AA~A y
question. In other words, what the Bolshe-
visits hope is that the publics OF the western
nations win be confused by the territorial
question, and, thus confused, will prevent
their governments from taking action until
the hour has passed when action can be use
ful and Rumania has been overrun and the
way to middle Europe opened for Bolshevst
armies and propaganda Really the issue is
whether Bolshevism shall be fought on the
Dniester or on the Danube, just as last sum-
mer it was a question whether it should be
checked at the Vistula or the Rhine. But
who will pretend that the fact is appreciated
in London, Washington or Rome, to say
nothing of Paris, which sees more clearly
perhaps, but is powerless to undertake
new responsibility?
Looking now for moment to Rumanian
powers of resistance, It must be recognized
that Rumania has far better military ma
chine than Poland, because it had a good
army at the close of it's war with Germany
an army which had been trained by French
mission, had fought admirably and gave
promise of great effectiveness at the mo
ment when the Russian collapse compelled
it's capitulation. This army has been fully
equipped thanks to the successful invasion
of Hungary; 1t has heavy artillery and
should have all the means of making war
i
admirable frontier-that is, an easily defen-
sible barrier From Plevna onward, too the
Rumanian army has had real tradition
which makes 1t something far different from
the Polish army, necessarily an improvisa-
tion.
Is Rumanian Patriotism Strong Enough
To Face Another Disastrous War?
Provided the nation stood behind the army
and was capable of such miracles of patriot
ism as the Polish people In the last hours OF
the Red invasion, or Of the French renais-
sance at the Marne and the Italian at the
Piave Rumanian defence might we'll be ex-
pected to prove adequate. But will such a
national awakening take place in Rumania
or will the domestic troubles and the war
WEAKNESS which is everywhere in the world
to-day avail to destroy the resisting power
of the army and open the way for swift
and fatal Bolshevist invasion? The whole
problem Is here.
1t remains possible, of coursey that the
Russians will attack Poland again. / have
pointed out why this seems less likely than
the Rumanian operation, but there is moth
ing coming from the Riga Peace Conference
which can be regarded adequately re-
assuring. and we all know that Poland Is
passing through a period of misery and
famine, the agonies of which can hardly be
the national powers of resistance. Yet it is
still unlikely that even under new threats
Poland would "go Bolshevist." The Rus
slams risked everything on this assumption
last summer and were terribly punished In
consequence. And 1t is to promote revou-
lions that they make war, as they make
propaganda territorial considerations do not
weigh with them, save useful eyewash for
foreign consumption.
Russian Attack on Run1anta
Would Be Entirely Unprovoked.
At all events, If the Russians do attack
Rumania-and, for myself. believe they
will--such an attack should be accepted as
final confutation Of all the arguments which
have filled the world about the possibility OF
making peace with the Bolshevists. The att
tack will be unprovoked. Not only have the
Rumanians not assaied the Russians, but
they have so far taken no forcible means to
recover the whole of their gold reserve.
which was transferred to Russia following
the occupation of Bucharest by the Ger
mans. fell into the hands of the Bolshevists
and is now believed to be source of funds
for Russian purchases in the United States
and elsewhere.
The Bessarabian pretext is too thin to de-
ceive any one If there is anything in self
determination, IL there Is any virtue In the
doctrine that people Of the same race should
be permitted to unite in a common country.
Bessarabia belongs TO Rumania. It was only
annexed following the favorable vote OF its
own legislature. The Russian element-or
more exactly the Sav-is insignificant. The
whole issue Is trumped up to deceive the
American and the English public and to
cover a renewal OF the Bolshevist campaign
against our whole western civilization.
And IL the campaign succeeds, IL the Boil
shevists overthrow the Rumanians and pen
citrate middle Europe, English and American
commercial interests, now preaching the ne
cessity of reopening the markets of Central
Europe in order to restore economic cond-
tions at home will see their whole campaign
doomed to swift defeat, and instead of an
expansion of foreign markets there will be
a swift contraction. Yet it is the lure of new
markets and expanded trade which explains
the continuing and growing refusal to see
the Russian situation as It really is. More
over, the Russians have well learned how to
exploit this western sentiment until such
time they are able to renew their own pro-
gramme, which is something quite different
from any western conception.
Copyright, 1921, by the Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.