New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-23
RUSSLOSS HEAVY,
DESERTER SAYS
Lack of Munitions CauS-
ing Frightful Casualties,
EX-Lieutenant Asserts.
$4,000 MEN IN
ONE REGIMENT GONE
Refused to Make Hopeless AS
sault, and Fled Here Hoping for
Work in Powder Plant.

Russian hopes Of ultimate victory
against the Teutonic allies hang al
most entirely on huge and immediate
shipments Of munitions from the
% United States, according to ApAtolye
Bogatiregoff. aforetme lieutenant in
b the 18th Infantry Regiment, Suvoroff
& division. now a deserter and in this
: country.
Bogatregoff, which is not his real
name, cheerfully admits being a de-
serter
81 refused" he said yesterday, ito
obey the command OF my colonel to
take 1000 men and attempt TO capture
a fortified position without an artillery
detachment in the rear. There was
not sufficient ammunition for my com
mand, and | understood there was not
enough to supply the artillery. Know
ing it meant certain death TO all my
men. refused to obey my commander"
The deserter says this all happened
June 10. on a stricken field fifty miles
southwest Of Rawa- Ruska. He es-
capped while stationing outposts and
made his way to the United States.
THE soldiers of Russia" he said,
through an Interpreter, "are aware of
the lack of munitions and of the han
dicap under which Shey are confront
ing the enemy. When we left year
ago in August for the camp at Volga,
under the command of Baron Zaltza,
the men suspected there was scarcity
of ammunition Orders were issued TO
the men TO use it sparingly. We en-
tertained hopes that our supplies
would be replenished from the United
States"
The Russian soldiers, he said, believe
the United States is supplying the
greater part of the munitions used by
them, and ere under the impression
that il is done to help out the Allies.
Il is also their firm belief that be-
cause of this all the Russian territory
now in possession of the Germans will
be retaken.
Bogatiregof blames his government
for the lack Of munitions. II was not
prepared for the war, he says. Now,
he asserts, every conceivable building,
schools, public buildings and barns,
which can be used for the manufacture
Of ammunition is being pressed into
service all over Russia.
In these improvised arsenals, he says,
school children, women and men, too
old TO fight, are working.
Bogatiregoff says he is a graduate Of
the Kazan Military School. During his
year of active campaigning he said he
fought in siXty-four battles and was
wounded three times.
What is worse than fighting" he
said. 'is lying i'll the trenches. There
is no madness among the men when
they are fighting. 1t comes only when
they are resting in the trenches.
An idea Of the great losses suffered
by the Russians is given by the de-
'serter's statement that when his regi-
ment was modified it was 1000
strong. Since then, he said, $4,000 men
h I'd been sen, TO fiji the gaps, the time
q ne deserted. OF these $4,000, he says,
but 100 are left, and of the original
1000 only 10. Every one of the orig
inal offers of the regiment has either
. been killed or disabled.
80 IL is Bogatiregoff's hope to get en-
ployment here and, when he considers
II safe, to communicate with his wife
and children, who are in Russia, una
ware of his whereabouts.
His ambition is TO obtain employ
ment in munitions plant, where his
} knowledge of chemistry will enable
q him to aid his country more than by
fighting.