A UNITED RUSSIA..
[To TER EDITOR OP THE "SpzorAroa."]
SIR,—It is a great comfort to those who both know and love Russia to find in your columns a true perspective of events on that battle-front at the present moment. From the hysterical outbursts in some of the daily papers, one might imagine that Russia was literally on her last legs, from a fighting point of view, and that the Germans had merely to walk into Warsaw and there dictate terms of peace. Yet it is no exaggeration to say that could the Germans walk into Moscow, after the manner of Napoleon, the discussion of peace terms would still be far removed from the Russian mind, so great is the determination of that nation not to give in under any conditions. Were emphasis of this amazing unity required, the fact need only be recalled that the eve of war witnessed the symptoms of an impending great industrial upheaval which was reflected throughout the whole Empire. But with the hour of national peril came an entire change of front and a consolidation of effort by all classes towards one specific end, which should teach a lesson to those in England who find pleasure in criticizing our Slav ally. Strikes for an extra halfpenny an hour are in Russia unknown; there is no stone-throwing at responsible Ministers by a sensational Press; and I can testify that there is mild amazement at the state of nerves—the term is euphemistic—from which England, as judged by certain papers, is suffering. That Russia is always strongest in retreat and on the defensive is a commonplace; that no country has decisively beaten Russia during the last three centuries is merely a fact of history (as regards Japan, vide Count Ha.yashi's Memoirs); and that during the winter months, to use a colloquialism, she saved the bacon of her Western allies will ultimately be better understood and, I hope, appreciated.—I am, Sir, &e., ALAN LETEBRIDGZ. Seymour Hotel, Tetnes.
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