Evening star., 1917-12-02
RUSSIAN ASHAMED
Of COUNTRYS ACTS
Says Nation Is in Hands Of Ad.
venturers and Is Greatly Dis
tressed at Recent Events.
BY BAsSETT DIGBY.

Chicago Daily News. Copyright. 1917.
STOCKHOLM. December IA remark
ably poignant document comparable to
some that saw the light in the French
revolution has been placed In my hands
by grief-stricken man who had been
military commander Of the pivotal district
Of Kief and NJ. Kerensky's stanchest aid
In central Russia. He is the artfllerist
officer Col. Oberoutchev whom the car
banished for three years in 1914. He spent
his exile first in Switzerland and later
in the United States. He returned to
Russia in January. and later Kerensly
appointed him military governor Of Kief.
Last month he went to Copenhagen to
confer with delegates from the central
powers about war prisoners.
The colonel. greatly distressed BY the
events in Russia, sent for mo and handed
mo a manuscript which he had written
and asked me to secure a wide publica-
tion for it. Under the caption. IT Am
Ashamed" the article says:
Calls Them Adventurers.
"A group Of revolutionary adventur-
erers. in spite of the categorical dec
laration of the best representatives of
the revolutionary democracy, has seiz-
ed power and begun to administer
Russia by throwing away our watch
words. When 1 analyze my complicat-
ed sensations concerning these events
L find that my strongest feeling is one
or shame. l am ashamed OF my
motherland, who has allowed herself
to suffer such dishonor as mob rule by
irresponsible adventurers 1 am asham-
ed that they are able to remain in
power and impose their will not only
icvnn nf h.xt 70.
attempt to enforce it on all of Russia.
When l read the published treaties
OF Russia with her allies was asham-
ed OF that perfidy. though personally I
am not a supporter of secret treaties.
Had the makers of the present social
ed revolution published the secret
treaties with the central powers at the
same time 1t would have been impos-
sible to object. But they were unable
to do that and SO they do all in their
power to compromise one side. This is
an act of treachery. 1 am ashamed that
at the head of my country stand tria-
tors.
Upholder Of Peace.
From the very beginning of the war
1 was an upholder of peace without
anneXations and without indemnitfes.
I reckoned that such a peace was nec-
essary to prevail against the idea of
militarism. armed seizure and the
decision of international Quarrels by
armed force. When the Russian revo-
lutionary government loudly announced
this program and explained its desire
to keep its hand on the sword and keep
the weapon sharp in order to be able
to support it's righteous desire I heart
lily agreed with the makers of the revo-
luton in the rectitude of such a
course But when the honorable revo-
lutionarles were suppianted by adven-
turers who promptly proposed an arm
a rF110 MT
shame because I saw that this course
of humiliation was deliberately planned
by the present accidental rulers Of
Russia
that she would not make peace with
unknown persons. but would proceed to
peace conversations only with dele
gates specially elected by the constftu-
ent assembly the directors of the pres
ent policy and together with them all
OF Russia received an object lesson
which made me painfully ashamed of
my dear country. AS regards an arm
istice. bearing in mind the complete
REORGANIZATION Of the army to which
the adventurers have directed all their
efforts all the time, Germany wants no
armfstfce. She can calmly draw on
her troops from the Russian front to
fight the troops of Russia'S allies, leav-
ing in the trenches only a few sentries
and machine guns with groups of old
hands at hypocritical determination.
Why. indeed, an armistice!
Humiliated by Germany.
But through this proposal Germany
took advantage to the uttermost OF a
chance to humiliate my long suffering
land. The Germans said, Withdraw
your troops 100 kilometers (sixty
miles) and we may be able to arrange
an armistice with you That is the
shame which our self-styled rulers have
brought upon us and a blush of shame
foods the face at the thought that this
could happen
From my youth have believed IN
as the salvation of my coun.
try. believed 1t would revivify not
only the national life but the life OF the
whole world. I have kept this belief
In all Its purity until gray hairs have
como to my head. My American friends
have said to me many times that in the
struggle of the Russian revolutionaries
for the freedom of Russia they saw
a struggle for world freedom and I
was proud Of this thought. At last
came the awaited hour. The Russian
revolution wassaccomplished, breaking
the chains Of bondage. Freedom in all
Its beauty stood before US and we
breathed freely. Before us glowed the
dawn Of happiness.
shed from our horizon. There is dark
ness and raging anarchy instead, and
the old watchwords have been cast
aside. Most shameful of all is the fact
that before long the very idea of revo-
luton may be compromised-thatid idea
In the helpfulness OF which have be-
ieyed all nv life"