28 DECEMBER 1918, Page 1

Even at the present moment Esthonia is being invaded by

Bolshevik troops although the Bolsheviks formally recognized the independence of that country and Esthonia threw in her fortunes spontaneously with those of the Allies. Yet there are found persons capable of saying that our ships ought not to fire upon the Bolsheviks who are advancing along the coast. There seem to be three possible lines of policy for the Allied: to leave Russia to work out her own salvation or damnation; to undertake a war, to which no one could set limits, for the suppression of Bolshevism ; or to adopt a cautious and watching method, which .would mean in practice keeping a certain number of military posts and mobile forces in Russia till the situation became clearer. It is impossible to say which one of these courses ought to be taken without knowing the facts, and unfortunately we are all in the dark about the facts. Possibly the Government themselves do not know very much more than outsiders.