18 JANUARY 1919, Page 3

The situation in Russia is still confused. The Bolsheviks appear

to be losing ground in the North and East, where the victory of the Siberians at Penn has encouraged the orderly elements. On the other hand, they are invading Poland and the Ukraine, as well as Esthonia and Courland, and in each country they appear to find recruits among the extreme Socialists. The position of the Poles, threatened by the Bolsheviks, robbed and tricked by the retreating Germans, and worried by the Ruthenians in Eastern Galicia, is very difficult, and, to make matters worse, the Polish parties have been.engaged in violent quarrels as to the composition of the temporary Government. If the Poles could pat aside their party differences for a few months, they might easily obtain a free and united -Poland with Allied aasistanee. It may be hoped that M. Paderewski's attempt to form a Coalition Cabinet, representing all the Polish parties, will succeed. It is not easy for the Allies with all goodwill to help a country which is rent by faction, though President Wilson's pledge to Poland must and will be honoured.