News that the German vessel which captured the American steamer City of Flint is. the leruiser Emden will come as a surprise to some, though it has been known that armed German merchantmen have been operating on the seas. It indeed the Emden is at large, she may prove just as destructive as was her predecessor of the Same name during the last War, and the attention of a portion of the British Navy will [doubtless be diverted to see that she comes to similar end, What is of greater interest at the moment is that she should have captured an [American vessel and have sent her to a Russian port. This may lead to a clarification of Rus-Sie's stand in this war, for there is merit In the American contention that if she does not desire come out openly on the side of Germany, but to retain her neutrality, then there exist Ino grounds upon which she can legally detain the City of Flint. Should she continue to do so, then it will be apparent that she has thrown jin her lot with Germany, and vessels carrying [contraband to Russia will be liable to seizure the Allies, Tt will not come as a surprise if Russia decides to come out openly on the side lof Germany, for that is a contingency which has been inthe minds of the Allied statesmen lever since it was shown that the Soviet-German anti-aggression pact was something far more significant than at first appeared. Should Russia enter the war it will have a profound effect upon the present submarine campaign. She is reported to possess no fewer than 64 Junder water vessels and probably as many as 14. While i" would. be unlikely that Russia 11d throw them all into the scale for Ger~ Jmany's benefit, it is clear that she would be Toast to make good the losses which already been inflicted on the U-boats, That Jehould of have any very serious effect upon the anticipated outcome of the war, for it hi been proved that the British Navy has got the submarine menace well in hand. The only result would be that a certain number of losses would have to be encountered, and that some Hionger time would be necessary to reduce the menace to its present proportions. At the same time there is very litle to suggest that Russia willing to side with Germany to the extent lor actually giving her military and naval aid. Hindeed judging from all that has happened the [Soviet is stilt more intent on consolidating its fzains at the expense of Germany, and that in Ino too real an atmosphere of friendship.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.