The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-03

New York, Sept. 2.-Hopefulness
of the outcome of the Russian is ex-
pressed in a statement issued today
BY Director A. j. Sack, of the Rus
sian information bureau, an organiza
ton com posed of leading public and
business men who have become in
terested In the efforts of the Russian
people to establish democratic gov
eminent. The bureau is particularly
we'll informed about the progress OF
affairs in the former domain of the
Romanoffs. Mr.. Sacks statement fol-
lows:
The Russian army Is at present In
a critical state, which is clearly in
dictated In the speech recently made
by the commander-in chief of the
Russian armies, General kornilof, at
the Moscow national conference.
However, there are many signs show
ing that the situation is not so des-
perate as one might be led to believe
Judging from the data and facts
which were recently brought to the
attention OF the American public.
1t was natural that Premier keren-
sky and General Korniloff, speaking
at the Moscow national conference,
should lay all the emphasis on. the
sore spots OF the army. Their task
was to point out the danger, thus
stimulating as much as possible the
natural INSTINCT of the state for self
preservation. The Russian army still
exists; a powerful body of few
million men still hold their positions
under the German fire, valiantly de-
tending the country. The names OF
the regiments which frustrated the
military plans of the Russian general
20 "a
counted on the fingers. 1t is unfor-
tunate that when one regiment re-
treats. opening the lines, the entire
system of defense is broken and the
other regiments must follow. II would
not be an overestimation to say that
not less than 8 per cent Of the entire
Russian army is still sound fighting
material, and as soon as the per
cent affected by Maximalist agitation
will either recover or be amputated
the splendid fighting spirit of the
Russian army will be restored Rus
STA, in full accord with her allies
will do her bit ito make the world
safe for democracy"
Swarm Back to Firing Line.
The Russian information bureau
has just received data showing that
since the revolution, large numb OF
deserters returned to the firing lines
The Russian general staff announces
that, up to May IS. 11.15e deserters
came back to the northern front only
During the same period, 1856 n1er
returned to their places on the west
ern front; 1879 on the southwestern
front; Airs on the Rumanian from
tier and in the Odessa district. 23.o5s
in the Minsk district; 2,208 in the Ir.
kutsk province; 10000 In the KazAr
district; 3.500 in the Petrosrad dis.
trict, and 5000 IN The KTey province
The total mum Der OF men returned &c
the army during the two months fol-
lowing the revolution, up to May 10
reached lDs,s55. 1t must be noted
that no data have been received as
COW, Turkestan. Priamour, Omsk
Caucasus, Dvinsk and the Don region
Another indication to the effect that
the situation in the Russian army is
encouraging. In the spirit of the dele
gates to the All-Russian Cossack con-
gress which recently took place In
Petrograd. This can readily be seen
from the following resolution unani.
mously adopted at the congress:
Cossncks Declare Faith.
The congress of the Cossacks' dale
genius OF the Russian people. which
more than snce manifested itself In
the darkest moments OF our national
history. The congress firmly believes
that the provisional government, with
all the power at its command. pursu-
ing democratic policy based on the
consent of all the organized demo.
cratic forces and a foreign policy In
complete harmony with the allies
will be able to guide Russia into the
paths of liberty and democracy. The
81 ~ !,
a deep democratic spirit, are ready
to render all their support to the pro-
visional government in It's work oil
Graduating anarchy, preventing a
counter-revolutfon, and safeguarding
freedom of election to the constituent
assembly so that 1t can be true ex-
preston of the popular will, and thus
be instrumental in making Russia a
true democracy"
Many enthusiastic speeches were de-
livered by the Cossa cks' delegates at
this congress. OF especial interest
was the speech made by Cessaek
Kouzmiehev, delegate from the Trans
baikal region:
'Deserters, even as traitors and
towards, should hereafter have no
place in the ranks of the army They
should not be allowed to bear the
name of fighters for the country's
freedom. We can only wish that they
were in Germany and could feel the
iron hand of the kaiser. The Co.'S
sacks from the Transbaikal region de-
mand that the most rigid measures
De enapEoyed TO- pat Il seup" to- the evil
OF the Maximalist propaganda
The representative of the Orenburg
Cossacks. Tarasoff, said:
We are not chauvinists. Our de.
sire for victory springx from the Pc
culiarities Of our national life. The
COs&Acka VAra aiEaYa kraA and Al