Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-09-15


sibility Of stopping them.
Avalanche of Criti"tAm.
These soldiers were determined. ex-
perionced fighters. Russias best troops.
acquitting themselves with unusual
bravery In every bayonet action. but Grip
pied and finally demoralized by INSULT
cient ammunition and the knowledge that
II was this lack of ammunition that or
dered the continued retreat from one
position TO another.
The most rigidly censored press In the
world and n national and Inherent inhi-
bition OF free comment of any sort has
failed TO check the avalanche OF criti-
cism and the accusations which have
been made against the government Off
cials who are held responsible. For once
expression OF opinion in Russia has be-
come FREQ and unhampered.
No attempt is made to conceal this re-
preach against the methods OF the bu-
reaucrats who are accused OF having
crippled Russia's fighting strength II
is not expressed alone by men OF revolu-
ionary inclinations OF opposition ten
denotes, nor Is II uttered In hushed
voices OF secret places, but is loudly and
ciamorously current everywhere among
men Of all parties and oiasses.
prominent member of the Duma said
TO an administration correspondent In
Petrograd few days ago;
The Russian people are on the
threshoid OF great awakening. Every
one in Russia, officers. civilians and
moujiks, know why Russn has been
compelled TO surrender large part of
its territory. They know that they have
good officers and that the fighting
strength and spirit Of the Russian troops
are ~ high a. at the beginning OF war.
Realize u
they know, also, have been
forced to retreat ipless at
the mercy OF the fine oman ar
tillery while their o ,s have had
only few rounds o Il lunition that
had 20 be sparingly used Without UNI
Outstanding the peculiar methods OF the
purchasing commissions whose business
II Il TO supply them with ammunition
they at least realize that their govern
ment IL at fault that they have been sent
into trenches impossible to defend and
that tens OF thousands Of their comrades
now lie dead as a result OF the delay In
the delivery Of ammunition.
In my opinion In this present awaken
ing Of the army and the people to the
criminal neglect and corruption OF their
orftcials there are the germs OF the most
serious revolution Russia has ever
hnOwn--a revolution supported by the
army. This revolution win come as soon
a. the war IL over"
A common view 10 that the evII 4 ac-
counted for by the residue of German
INFLUENCE which still exists IN the vari-
Gus departments OF the government.
Numerous meetings in Petrograd de-
nouncins corruption Of government Off
ciais were broken up by the police, at
which II was openly declared that GER
tain Russian officials were defeating at
temple Of the army TO win the war and
that. while they continued in power, vic
tory was impossible.
The allegation was MADE that the Rus
sian officials who superintendent the
purchase OF war munitions were pri-
martiy interested IN seizing the oppor-
tunity which the war offered them OF
amassing fortune at the expense of the
government and Insisting upon such a
large commission on all contracts that
the business OF buying war materials
waited while the purchasing commissions
adjusted satisfactorily the amount OF
commission which they were to obtain.
American and English business men.
who have been trying TO sell ammunition
TO the Russian government, state that,
without an average payment of 10 per
cent commission OF all sales. Il was inn
possible TO do business with the Rus-
sian purchasing commissions. In some
cases tho contract. they say, e DELAYED
NUhfln ha - a =
jnsted and 4 Is not an unusual thing
for this delay to be matter OF months.
A short time before the fail OF War
saw Il seemed that the situation had
been greatly improved by the arrival OF
AooO.0o shells. II was not until some OF
these were taken to the actual firing
line that II was discovered. according 20
reports, that they were fraction OF
an inch too large 70 mt any Russian
gun. BY an odd coincidence. however.
they were OF the exact caliber to tit
some OF the German artillery.
II also is well known that a large
amount OF shrapnel was offered Russia
by American manufacturers six months
ago. but for some reason or other was
not accepted. Since that time Russia has
been forced 70 buy the same shrapnel at
almost double the first price quoted.
Officers who helped TO conduct the re-
treat OF the Russians from position 70
position-from one line Of trenches liter
ally swept away by German fire 70 an
other awaiting the same fate-describe
gtvidy the tragedy Of fighting with in
sufficient ammunition.
German and Austrian trench builders.
the descriptions run. appeared and began
sorA not Tar from the Russian positions
Russian officers gauging the distance
through their Instruments, signalled 10
their battery commanders. but received
the reply In almost every case that there
was no ammunition 20 waste. Accord
ingiy the Teutons built their trenches An
plain sight OF the Russian positions ana
In such easy range OF the Russian bat
tenes that a few rounds OF ammunition
could have wiped out every sign OF the
invadera