Evening star., 1922-07-16
RUSSIANS MAY THREATEN
WAR TO GAIN THEIR ENDS
Blow Toward Near East and Asia Now
Expected-Direct Assault on Euro
pean States Unlikely.

Russian statesmen of the more
moderate school have not been able
to gain.
Russ May Strike In East.
( But it cannot be expected that any
. Russian military effort first will be
directed against the European pow
ers by direct onslaught Bolshevik
, leaders are clever in their insidious
conversion of peoples to their cause.
Already the groundwork has been
laid for might political and mill
tary offensive in Asia. But little
could be accomplished as long as
Enver Pasha, the Turkish nationalist
leader, remained in supreme author
lty or the sultan's power continued.
The bolsheviki have been slowly but
Turkey. and the bolshevists have so
, undermined Mustapha Kemafs au-
thority that today he is no longer
master of those regions he once held
within his grip. The Anataolian
Moscow. though Kemalists refuse to
admit it. The whole of the near
east soner or later. through machi-
nations in Turkey. will be controlled
by the bolsheviki. unless there be
cording to reliable advices, the boil
sheviki intend to use great sec
tion of their armies in the complete
domination of Turkey. Later they
will strike into Asia. there to en-
large their area of political and COM
merciar domination. Naturally Rus
sian influence in these regions will
tend to seriously undermine the best
laid plans of the allies in dominating
the Asiatic world.
May Threaten to Gain Ends.
There is always danger that the
hotheads of Russia will bring the
Russian forces directly to bear
against Poland. Rumania and others
of the borderland states. 1t is be-
lieved that the present time Is in
opportune. for il the Russians can
first make their threats felt in other
sections of the world desired ends
in financial and economic ways can
be forced from the allies without
ropean countries themselves. But
the chancelleries of the old world
are not at all obsessed with the idea
that the soviet regime never will at
tempt to strike Europe.
The invasion of Poland would usher
in an era of general European war
fare, for France is committed to
Poland and would endeavor to save
her. 1t would remain a question just
how much support France would get
in any enterprise against the boil,
shevik in view of the disposition
| of other nations to blame France for
the situation as it exists today.
With all hope Of Immediately milk
ing allied governments of vast sums
there is some fear. as to what the
Russians may attempt in the way OF
closer working alliance with the Ger
mans. 1t Is reported that there al
ready exists, working agreement be-
tween the German monarchists and
the soviets, looking toward the over
throw of the German republican gov
ernment. This may or may not be
true. but il the monarchists of Ger
many actually have Joined hands with
the soviet, 1t is with the belief that
they eventually can gain the upper
hand of the German reds. in any civil
strife that surely will arise with the
overthrow of the German government.
Watching Russ and Germany.
Close watch upon Russian plans, as
to Germany is being kept by the nom
Russian nations. former enemies of
Germany, in view of Germany's own
desperate situation. The Wirth gov
ernment has been threatened with
overthrow several times within the
past month, and only eleventh-hour
political compromises have saved the
situation. Drastic efforts are being
made to curb the power Of the junk
ers. but just how much the republican
regime has succeeded remains to be
seen.
The one chance OF Germany going
bolshevik depends upon how able the
present government may be to pre-
vent social revolution. the re-
suit of Debated currency and indus
trial paralysis due to Germany's in
ability to buy abroad with her worth
less currency Either of these courses
will grinc down the German masses.
In this case there might come Sc
rious days for the republic. That this
period Of trying hours Is approach
ing is the belief in London and Rome,
though Paris remains skeptical. With
both monarchists and communists
striving for the upper hand once the
republic has been overthrown, there
is no telling just how longscivil strife
would last or just how far-reaching
the consequences would be. One thing
is certain, however, there would be
enforced revision Of the whole scheme
of reparations. which are held largely
responsible for Germany's present
financial and commercial woes.
Anything may happen in Europe
within the next month. Most. any
thing can be expected.